diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f05c70073b8..5dad1aa57f7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -519,7 +519,8 @@ outputmakefile:
 ifneq ($(KBUILD_SRC),)
 	$(Q)ln -fsn $(srctree) source
 	$(Q)$(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/mkmakefile $(srctree)
-	$(Q){ echo "# this is build directory, ignore it"; echo "*"; } > .gitignore
+	$(Q)test -e .gitignore || \
+       	{ echo "# this is build directory, ignore it"; echo "*"; } > .gitignore
 endif
 
 # To make sure we do not include .config for any of the *config targets