diff --git a/compat/.gitignore b/compat/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1684c26dfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compat/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+dummy.c
diff --git a/compat/Makefile.am b/compat/Makefile.am
index 225ce39aeb..5f0439bdee 100644
--- a/compat/Makefile.am
+++ b/compat/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 noinst_LTLIBRARIES = libcompat.la
-libcompat_la_SOURCES =
+libcompat_la_SOURCES = dummy.c
 libcompat_la_LIBADD = $(LTLIBOBJS)
 libcompat_la_LDFLAGS = -no-undefined
+
+BUILT_SOURCES = dummy.c
+CLEANFILES = dummy.c
+
+dummy.c:
+	rm -f dummy.c
+	echo '/* Automatically generated */' > dummy.c