diff -up evolution-3.8.5/shell/e-shell-window-actions.c.help-contents evolution-3.8.5/shell/e-shell-window-actions.c
--- evolution-3.8.5/shell/e-shell-window-actions.c.help-contents	2013-07-23 14:52:25.000000000 +0200
+++ evolution-3.8.5/shell/e-shell-window-actions.c	2013-10-09 18:34:01.179570314 +0200
@@ -1402,6 +1402,17 @@ e_shell_window_actions_init (EShellWindo
 	if (path == NULL)
 		gtk_action_set_visible (ACTION (SUBMIT_BUG), FALSE);
 	g_free (path);
+
+	/* Viewing user documentation requires the evolution-help package.
+	 * Look for one of the files it installs. */
+	path = g_build_filename (
+		EVOLUTION_DATADIR, "help", "C",
+		PACKAGE, "index.page", NULL);
+	if (!g_file_test (path, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR)) {
+		gtk_action_set_visible (ACTION (CONTENTS), FALSE);
+		gtk_action_set_sensitive (ACTION (CONTENTS), FALSE);
+	}
+	g_free (path);
 }
 
 static GList *