diff --git a/doc/rootfs/meson.build b/doc/rootfs/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2df1de80d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/rootfs/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+rootfs_readme = configure_file(
+    configuration: dummy_config_data,
+    input: 'README',
+    output: 'README',
+    install: true,
+    install_dir: lxcrootfsmount)
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a8cb73b97..17b2dd130 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -598,6 +598,7 @@ liblxc_dep = declare_dependency(
     dependencies: liblxc_dependencies)
 
 # Rest of sub-directories.
+subdir('doc/rootfs')
 subdir('hooks')
 subdir('src/lxc/cmd')
 subdir('src/lxc/tools')