diff --git a/perl/Makefile.am b/perl/Makefile.am
index 2c507113b..84f028aef 100644
--- a/perl/Makefile.am
+++ b/perl/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 
-Hamlib/Makefile: Hamlib/Makefile.PL
+# note: VPATH building does not work yet
+
+Hamlib/Makefile: $(top_srcdir)/perl/Hamlib/Makefile.PL
+	mkdir -p Hamlib
+	cp -u $(top_srcdir)/perl/Hamlib/{Changes,MANIFEST,README,Hamlib.pm,Hamlib.xs,Makefile.PL,test.pl,typemap} Hamlib/. 2> /dev/null || exit 0
 	cd Hamlib && perl Makefile.PL
 
 all: Hamlib/Makefile
@@ -8,3 +12,19 @@ all: Hamlib/Makefile
 test: all
 	make -C Hamlib test
 
+clean: Hamlib/Makefile
+	make -C Hamlib clean
+
+distclean: Hamlib/Makefile
+	make -C Hamlib distclean
+
+distcheck: Hamlib/Makefile
+	make -C Hamlib distcheck
+
+install: Hamlib/Makefile
+	make -C Hamlib install
+
+EXTRA_DIST = Hamlib/Changes Hamlib/MANIFEST Hamlib/README \
+				Hamlib/Hamlib.pm Hamlib/Hamlib.xs Hamlib/Makefile.PL \
+				Hamlib/test.pl Hamlib/typemap
+