diff --git a/dev-build/cmake/cmake-3.31.2.ebuild b/dev-build/cmake/cmake-3.31.2.ebuild
index e9982cd799b4f..77333d9623b15 100644
--- a/dev-build/cmake/cmake-3.31.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-build/cmake/cmake-3.31.2.ebuild
@@ -277,6 +277,17 @@ src_install() {
 }
 
 pkg_postinst() {
+	if [[ -z ${EPREFIX} ]] ; then
+		local file
+		# See bug #599684 and  bug #753581 (at least)
+		for file in /etc/arch-release /etc/redhat-release /etc/debian_version ; do
+			eerror "Errant ${file} found!"
+			eerror "The presence of these files is known to confuse CMake's"
+			eerror "library path logic. Please (re)move this file:"
+			eerror " mv ${file} ${file}.bak"
+		done
+	fi
+
 	if use gui; then
 		xdg_icon_cache_update
 		xdg_desktop_database_update
diff --git a/dev-build/cmake/cmake-9999.ebuild b/dev-build/cmake/cmake-9999.ebuild
index 57684e5cd2298..214e75342d3c6 100644
--- a/dev-build/cmake/cmake-9999.ebuild
+++ b/dev-build/cmake/cmake-9999.ebuild
@@ -278,6 +278,17 @@ src_install() {
 }
 
 pkg_postinst() {
+	if [[ -z ${EPREFIX} ]] ; then
+		local file
+		# See bug #599684 and  bug #753581 (at least)
+		for file in /etc/arch-release /etc/redhat-release /etc/debian_version ; do
+			eerror "Errant ${file} found!"
+			eerror "The presence of these files is known to confuse CMake's"
+			eerror "library path logic. Please (re)move this file:"
+			eerror " mv ${file} ${file}.bak"
+		done
+	fi
+
 	if use gui; then
 		xdg_icon_cache_update
 		xdg_desktop_database_update