diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4b8b0f3..433c0e1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ autom4te.cache
 /ABOUT-NLS
 /INSTALL
 /timestamp
+/AUTHORS
+/ChangeLog
 
 # Libtool.
 /ltmain.sh
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index d1a015a..2deadd6 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -28,10 +28,13 @@ dist_doc_DATA = \
 README: README.org
 
 AUTHORS:
-	git shortlog --summary --numbered --email
+	$(file >AUTHORS,$(shell git shortlog --summary --numbered --email))
 
 ChangeLog:
-	git log --oneline --graph
+	$(file >ChangeLog,$(shell git log --oneline --graph))
+
+release-tag:
+	$(shell git tag -a "v$(VERSION)" -m "Release v$(VERSION)")
 
 live:
 	mkdir -p /usr/share/guile/site/dql