diff --git a/spice_codegen.py b/spice_codegen.py
index 4dad06c4..05b47f62 100755
--- a/spice_codegen.py
+++ b/spice_codegen.py
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ writer.set_option("source", os.path.basename(proto_file))
 
 writer.public_prefix = options.prefix
 
+writer.writeln("/* this is a file autogenerated by spice_codegen.py */")
+writer.header.writeln("/* this is a file autogenerated by spice_codegen.py */")
 writer.writeln("#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H")
 writer.writeln("#include <config.h>")
 writer.writeln("#endif")