diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index a2c32a6..47083f5 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS =$(PROGS)
 EXTRA_DIST = AUTHORS CHANGES README.cares Makefile.inc Makefile.dj	   \
  Makefile.m32 Makefile.netware Makefile.vc6 $(man_MANS) $(MSVCFILES)	   \
  config-win32.h RELEASE-NOTES libcares.pc.in buildconf get_ver.awk maketgz \
- TODO ares_build.h.in
+ TODO ares_build.h.in buildconf.bat
 
 DISTCLEANFILES = ares_build.h
 
diff --git a/buildconf.bat b/buildconf.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc335aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/buildconf.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+@echo off
+REM set up a CVS tree to build when there's no autotools
+REM $Revision$
+REM $Date$
+
+REM create ares_build.h
+copy /Y ares_build.h.dist ares_build.h
+