diff --git a/README b/README
index 3e712af8c0..dc2e2b4ba4 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ It's possible to configure the software so it looks like this instead:
 
 These "fancy URLs" are more readable and memorable for users. To use
 fancy URLs, you must either have Apache 2.x with .htaccess enabled and
-mod_redirect enabled, -OR- know how to configure "url redirection" in
+mod_rewrite enabled, -OR- know how to configure "url redirection" in
 your server.
 
 1. Copy the htaccess.sample file to .htaccess in your StatusNet
@@ -384,6 +384,18 @@ like:
 If you changed your HTTP server configuration, you may need to restart
 the server first.
 
+If it doesn't work, double-check that AllowOverride for the StatusNet
+directory is 'All' in your Apache configuration file. This is usually
+/etc/httpd.conf, /etc/apache/httpd.conf, or (on Debian and Ubuntu)
+/etc/apache2/sites-available/default. See the Apache documentation for
+.htaccess files for more details:
+
+   http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/howto/htaccess.html
+
+Also, check that mod_rewrite is installed and enabled:
+
+   http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_rewrite.html
+
 Sphinx
 ------