diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 1aa316ce6..3ef4bd343 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2009-12-24  Robert Millan  <rmh.grub@aybabtu.com>
+
+	* autogen.sh: Workaround Automake requirement for NEWS and README.
+	We really should have them, but in practice we never had.  This
+	ought not be considered a regression.
+
 2009-12-24  Robert Millan  <rmh.grub@aybabtu.com>
 
 	* BUGS: Remove.
diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 1cc561dc6..101bac187 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ set -ex
 
 aclocal
 autoheader
+
+# Automake is unhappy without NEWS and README, but we don't have any
+touch NEWS README
 automake -a -c -f
+rm -f NEWS README
+
 autoconf
 
 exit 0