diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 4533859..0d87aa2 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # pkgbuild (development version)
 
-# pkgbuild 1.2.1
+* pkgbuild does not build the PDF manual now if `pdflatex` is not installed, even if `manual = TRUE` (#123).
 
-# pkgbuild (development)
+# pkgbuild 1.2.1
 
 * Gábor Csárdi is now the maintainer.
 
diff --git a/R/build.R b/R/build.R
index 7e94472..5e4e94f 100644
--- a/R/build.R
+++ b/R/build.R
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ build_setup_source <- function(path, dest_path, vignettes, manual, clean_doc,
   no_manual <- "--no-manual" %in% args
   if (!no_manual && !has_latex()) {
     message("pdflatex not found! Not building PDF manual.")
+    manual <- FALSE
   }
 
   if (needs_compilation && (vignettes || manual)) {