diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f651d7deb7..be35963353 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # build products...
 *.py[co]
 build
+AUTHORS.TXT
 # Emacs backup files...
 *~
 .\#*
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5a96067cde..6ab81e395b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ clean:
 	rm -rf deb-build
 	rm -rf docs/json
 	rm -rf docs/js
+	@echo "Cleaning up authors file"
+	rm -f AUTHORS.TXT
 
 python:
 	$(PYTHON) setup.py build