diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index b31d934..d4ef8a0 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ sql-check: src/schema.sql
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \
   .dir-locals.el \
+  bootstrap \
   tests/gnu-system.scm \
   tests/guix-jobs.scm \
   tests/hello-singleton.scm \
diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8d2758f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Initialize the build system.
+
+set -e -x
+exec autoreconf -vfi