diff --git a/ax_init_standard_project.m4 b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
index a95f3dd..b255993 100644
--- a/ax_init_standard_project.m4
+++ b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
@@ -194,8 +194,6 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_INIT_STANDARD_PROJECT], [
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([clean-am], [clean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([distclean-am], [distclean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([maintainer-clean-am], [maintainer-clean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
-  test -f makefile.in && TMP_MAKEFILE="$(<makefile.in)" && \
-    (echo "EXTRA_DIST ="; echo "$TMP_MAKEFILE") > makefile.in
   test -f makefile.in && cat >> makefile.in <<EOF
 #### Begin: Appended by $0
 EXTRA_DIST += bootstrap.sh