diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5f893309d1..3893c23074 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ scan
 po/*.pot
 test-driver
 vips-*.tar.gz
-gtk-doc.make
 doc/reference/setup-build.stamp
 doc/reference/tmpl-build.stamp
 doc/reference/tmpl.stamp
diff --git a/gtk-doc.make b/gtk-doc.make
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..3ee6bad7f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gtk-doc.make
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/usr/share/gtk-doc/data/gtk-doc.notmpl.make
\ No newline at end of file