cvs diff on empty subdirectory

[Paul Edwards]

Situation:

On a particular branch, I used to have some files in
a directory called project/include/xxx

They have all been deleted now, with a status of dead.

So when I do a cvs checkout -r branch project, include
is created, but not xxx.

When I do a cvs diff -r aaa from the "project" level, after
doing a few diffs, it comes up and says
"can't find include/xxx, do a checkout first".  Then aborts!

The aaa tag (not branch tag) has no active files either.

Any ideas?

cvs 1.11.5 on solaris

BFN.  Paul.