diff --git a/install.txt b/install.txt
index 26f084560..77015efdc 100644
--- a/install.txt
+++ b/install.txt
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 These are simple instructions for installing the svalinn Trelis plugin (2017.08.09)
 
-1. Download the tarball
+1. Ensure the hdf5 and armadillo packages have been installed on your machine (libhdf5-dev and libarmadillo-dev, respectively)
+
+2. Download the tarball
      %> curl -L -o /tmp/svalinn-plugin.tgz https://uwmadison.box.com/shared/static/t8k4co68droabdn2sfnb57f59uhi52tq.tgz
 
      OR
 
      %> wget -O /tmp/svalinn-plugin.tgz https://uwmadison.box.com/shared/static/t8k4co68droabdn2sfnb57f59uhi52tq.tgz
 
-2. Change to the Trelis binary directory
+3. Change to the Trelis binary directory
      %> cd /opt/Trelis-16.3/bin
 
-3. Unpack the tarball (perhaps as sudo)
+4. Unpack the tarball (perhaps as sudo)
      %> sudo tar xzf /tmp/svalinn-plugin.tgz
 
-4. Run the brief installation script
+5. Run the brief installation script
      %> sudo bash plugins/svalinn/install.sh