diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index ca00b2669..1106fc078 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -837,6 +837,10 @@ env['HAS_LIBCPP'] = conf.CheckDeclaration('_LIBCPP_VERSION', '#include <iostream
 boost_version_source = get_expression_value(['<boost/version.hpp>'], 'BOOST_LIB_VERSION')
 retcode, boost_lib_version = conf.TryRun(boost_version_source, '.cpp')
 env['BOOST_LIB_VERSION'] = boost_lib_version.strip()
+print 'INFO: Found Boost version {0!r}'.format(env['BOOST_LIB_VERSION'])
+if not env['BOOST_LIB_VERSION']:
+    config_error("Boost could not be found. Install Boost headers or set"
+                 " 'boost_inc_dir' to point to the boost headers.")
 
 import SCons.Conftest, SCons.SConf
 context = SCons.SConf.CheckContext(conf)
diff --git a/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst b/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
index a9b613f5e..3d74cce7e 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
+++ b/doc/sphinx/compiling.rst
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Linux
 * For Ubuntu or Debian users, the following packages should be installed using
   your choice of package manager::
 
-      g++ python scons libsundials-serial-dev
+      g++ python scons libsundials-serial-dev libboost-dev
 
 * Building the python module also requires::
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Linux
 * For Fedora (version 22 or higher) users, the following packages should
   be installed via the package manager::
 
-      gcc-c++ python scons sundials-devel blas-devel lapack-devel
+      gcc-c++ python scons sundials-devel blas-devel lapack-devel boost-devel
 
   If your Fedora version is lower than 22, the `sundials-devel` package is not
   available, and you should build Sundials from source.