diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 30d786233c5..27268c5d8a6 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2000-01-09  Gerd Moellmann  <gerd@gnu.org>
+
+	* sendmail.el (toplevel): Provide `sendmail' when compiling
+	before `require'ing rmail and mailalias to prevent infinite 
+	recursion.
+
 2000-01-08  Dave Love  <fx@gnu.org>
 
 	* backquote.el: Remove inappropriate customization (allowing
diff --git a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
index a2b74d0de5f..ab9f8d6d1b8 100644
--- a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
+++ b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 ;;; Code:
 (eval-when-compile
+  ;; Necessary to avoid recursive `require's.
+  (provide 'sendmail)
   (require 'rmail)
   (require 'mailalias))