diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 04ec52eba5..b55de2dd16 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ CRUFT_FILES = \
 	$(top_builddir)/common/m4/ltversion.m4 \
 	$(top_builddir)/common/m4/lt~obsolete.m4
 
+CRUFT_DIRS = \
+	$(top_srcdir)/docs/plugins/tmpl
+
 include $(top_srcdir)/common/cruft.mak
 
 all-local: check-cruft