diff --git a/src/client/Makefile.am b/src/client/Makefile.am
--- a/src/client/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/client/Makefile.am
@@ -2,3 +2,20 @@ bin_PROGRAMS = distren
 distren_SOURCES = distren.c
 distren_LDADD = @DISTLIBS_LIBS@ @top_builddir@/src/common/libdistrencommon.la @XML_LIBS@
 distren_CFLAGS = @DISTLIBS_CFLAGS@ -I@top_srcdir@/src/common @XML_CPPFLAGS@
+
+
+include_HEADERS = distren.h
+
+#see http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/autobook/autobook_106.html#SEC106
+#libdistren:
+
+lib_LTLIBRARIES = libdistren.la
+
+libdistren_la_SOURCES = distren.h
+#evidently the following should not be LDADD, but LDFLAGS because automake doesn't like the idea of LDADD for libraries for some reason... or I am very confused
+libdistren_la_LIBADD = @DISTLIBS_LIBS@
+libdistren_la_CXXFLAGS = @DISTLIBS_CFLAGS@
+
+#see http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/autobook/autobook_91.html
+# either increase the revision number or the interface number each release!
+libdistren_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 0:0:0