diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a71974d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+SUBDIRS = compiler/cpp lib/cpp lib/py if
+## Don't run make dist from a subversion working copy
+## because it will pull in your .svn directories.
+EXTRA_DIST = bootstrap.sh cleanup.sh doc test tutorial \
+						 thrift.el thrift.vim thrift.bnf CONTRIBUTORS LICENSE \
+             lib/cocoa lib/erl lib/hs lib/java lib/ocaml lib/perl lib/php lib/rb