diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 2a340dbd4..94db9370e 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -82,11 +82,6 @@ Run install (this should install dependencies)::
     python3 -m pip install --user .
 
 
-Compile the protobuf description file::
-
-    sudo apt-get install protobuf-compiler
-    protoc --proto_path=electrum --python_out=electrum electrum/paymentrequest.proto
-
 Create translations (optional)::
 
     sudo apt-get install python-requests gettext
diff --git a/electrum/paymentrequest.py b/electrum/paymentrequest.py
index 4fa8c24ed..dedc76691 100644
--- a/electrum/paymentrequest.py
+++ b/electrum/paymentrequest.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import aiohttp
 try:
     from . import paymentrequest_pb2 as pb2
 except ImportError:
+    # sudo apt-get install protobuf-compiler
     sys.exit("Error: could not find paymentrequest_pb2.py. Create it with 'protoc --proto_path=electrum/ --python_out=electrum/ electrum/paymentrequest.proto'")
 
 from . import bitcoin, ecc, util, transaction, x509, rsakey