diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index fe53644e39..4ce83c9239 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = -I$(top_srcdir)/include        \
 
 bin_PROGRAMS = curl
 
-if BUILD_DOCS
-SUBDIRS = ../docs
-endif
-
 if USE_CPPFLAG_CURL_STATICLIB
 AM_CPPFLAGS += -DCURL_STATICLIB
 endif