diff --git a/Makefile.custom b/Makefile.custom
index 3561e5768..8c95ef2d4 100644
--- a/Makefile.custom
+++ b/Makefile.custom
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ release: distclean
 		-name .git \
 		-print \
 		-exec rm -r -f {} \; ; \
+	find busybox-$(VERSION).$(PATCHLEVEL).$(SUBLEVEL)$(EXTRAVERSION)/ -type f \
+		-name .gitignore \
+		-print \
+		-exec rm -f {} \; ; \
 	find busybox-$(VERSION).$(PATCHLEVEL).$(SUBLEVEL)$(EXTRAVERSION)/ -type f \
 		-name .\#* \
 		-print \