diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 3563ad357..b7397d458 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+touch README
+touch ABOUT-NLS
+
 echo "Running aclocal..." ; aclocal $ACLOCAL_FLAGS -I m4 || exit 1
 echo "Running autoheader..." ; autoheader || exit 1
 echo "Running autoconf..." ; autoconf || exit 1