diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 70c143bb40e6..2362046d1688 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ##############################################################################
 
-.PHONY: all clean dist
+.PHONY: all clean dist check
 
 OBJS = pixfunplugin.o pixelfunctions.o
 CFLAGS := -fPIC -Wall -Wno-long-long $(shell gdal-config --cflags) $(CFLAGS)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ $(TARGET): $(OBJS)
 
 PYTHON=python
 
-check:
+check: $(TARGET)
 	cd autotest/gcore && \
 	env GDAL_DRIVER_PATH=$(PWD):$(GDAL_DRIVER_PATH) \
 	PYTHONPATH=$(PWD)/autotest/pymod:$(PYTHONPATH) \
diff --git a/pixfunplugin.c b/pixfunplugin.c
index 57522e584bda..15c113d10f1a 100644
--- a/pixfunplugin.c
+++ b/pixfunplugin.c
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
  * Project:  GDAL
  * Purpose:  Provide a fake GDAL driver to register a small set of pixel
  *           functions to be used with the virtual driver.
- *           Indeed it is a dirty hack aimed to enable python users to use
- *           a small set of custom pixel functions without C++ coding.
+ *           It is a hack aimed to enable python users to use a small set
+ *           of custom pixel functions without C++ coding.
  * Author:   Antonio Valentino <antonio.valentino@tiscali.it>
  *
  ******************************************************************************