diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 0c2b886..26d93c8 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# automake <= 1.11 names yacc output .h rather than .hh -- see THRIFT-1614
+echo '#include "thrifty.h"' > compiler/cpp/thrifty.hh
+
 autoscan
 $LIBTOOLIZE --copy --automake
 aclocal -I ./aclocal