diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f6de4ad..fdf621f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ ltmain.sh
 libtool
 stamp-h
 stamp-h1
-/m4
 
 # stgit generated dirs
 patches-*
diff --git a/m4/.gitignore b/m4/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44701f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+
+*.m4