diff --git a/lisp/gnus/nnweb.el b/lisp/gnus/nnweb.el
index 6c09a76ba46..044fe10bf2a 100644
--- a/lisp/gnus/nnweb.el
+++ b/lisp/gnus/nnweb.el
@@ -37,8 +37,16 @@
 (require 'w3)
 (require 'url)
 (require 'nnmail)
-(ignore-errors
-  (require 'w3-forms))
+(eval-when-compile
+  (ignore-errors
+   (require 'w3)
+   (require 'url)
+   (require 'w3-forms)))
+;; Report failure to find w3 at load time if appropriate.
+(eval '(progn
+	 (require 'w3)
+	 (require 'url)
+	 (require 'w3-forms)))
 
 (nnoo-declare nnweb)