diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 861668467d..bfcd877fc1 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ HUGE=tool_hugehelp.c
 if USE_MANUAL
 # Here are the stuff to create a built-in manual
 
+$(MANPAGE):
+	cd $(top_builddir)/docs && $(MAKE)
+
 if HAVE_LIBZ
 # This generates the tool_hugehelp.c file in both uncompressed and
 # compressed formats.