diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi
index 91759b677a..208c6af5e8 100644
--- a/doc/contributing.texi
+++ b/doc/contributing.texi
@@ -78,9 +78,13 @@ export ACLOCAL_PATH=/usr/share/aclocal
 @xref{Macro Search Path,,, automake, The GNU Automake Manual}, for
 more information.
 
-Then, run @command{./configure} as usual.
+Then, run @command{./configure} as usual.  Make sure to pass
+@code{--localstatedir=@var{directory}} where @var{directory} is the
+@code{localstatedir} value used by your current installation (@pxref{The
+Store}, for information about this).
 
-Finally, you have to invoke @code{make check} to run tests.  If anything
+Finally, you have to invoke @code{make check} to run tests
+(@pxref{Running the Test Suite}).  If anything
 fails, take a look at installation instructions (@pxref{Installation})
 or send a message to the @email{guix-devel@@gnu.org, mailing list}.