diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 54b1ba1f..d07e6996 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ cp $ACDIR/lcmessage.m4 m4
 cp $ACDIR/progtest.m4 m4
 cp $ACDIR/introspection.m4 m4
 
-gtkdocize --copy --docdir doc/reference --flavour no-tmpl || exit 1
+gtkdocize --copy --docdir doc/reference || exit 1
 
 # some systems need libtoolize, some glibtoolize ... how annoying
 echo testing for glibtoolize ...
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a7fe3c7d..cbbe379d 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES(TYPE_INIT, glib-2.0 < 2.36,[
 )
 
 # check for gtk-doc
-GTK_DOC_CHECK(1.9)
+GTK_DOC_CHECK([1.14],[--flavour no-tmpl])
 
 # optional supporting libraries
 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
index 4d8d488c..c75b812a 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/operation.c
@@ -516,6 +516,16 @@ vips_operation_get_valist_required( VipsOperation *operation, va_list ap )
 				g_param_spec_get_name( pspec ), arg );
 #endif /*VIPS_DEBUG */
 
+			/* It'd be nice to be able to test for arg being a
+			 * valid gobject pointer, since passing in a valid
+			 * pointer, and having us destroy it, is a common
+			 * error and a cause of hard-to-find leaks.
+			 *
+			 * Unfortunately, G_IS_OBJECT() can't be given an
+			 * arbitrary pointer for testing -- you're very likely
+			 * to get coredumps.
+			 */
+
 			g_object_get( G_OBJECT( operation ), 
 				g_param_spec_get_name( pspec ), arg, NULL );