diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 152fdbf879..7515e1dc25 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 # for Unix/Linux
-Makefile
 *~
 *.o
 *.la
@@ -41,6 +40,11 @@ resource.rc
 
 version.c
 
+Makefile
+!/contrib/slapd-modules/*/Makefile
+!/doc/guide/admin/Makefile
+!/servers/slapd/back-sql/rdbms_depend/timesten/dnreverse/Makefile
+
 /config.status
 /config.log
 /include/stamp-h?