diff --git a/README b/README
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diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-GPL%20v2-blue.svg)](https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel/-/blob/master/COPYING)
+
+# xfce4-panel
+
+
+The Xfce Panel is part of the Xfce Desktop Environment and features 
+application launchers, panel menus, a workspace switcher and more. Many 
+aspects of the panel can be configured through the GUI, but also by GTK+ 
+style properties and hidden Xfconf settings.
+
+----
+
+### Homepage
+
+[Xfce4-panel documentation](https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel/start)
+
+### Changelog
+
+See [NEWS](https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel/-/blob/master/NEWS) for details on changes and fixes made in the current release.
+
+### Source Code Repository
+
+[Xfce4-panel source code](https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel)
+
+### Download a Release Tarball
+
+[Xfce4-panel archive](https://archive.xfce.org/src/xfce/xfce4-panel)
+    or
+[Xfce4-panel tags](https://gitlab.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel/-/tags)
+
+### Installation
+
+From source: 
+
+    % cd xfce4-panel
+    % ./autogen.sh
+    % make
+    % make install
+
+From release tarball:
+
+    % tar xf xfce4-panel-<version>.tar.bz2
+    % cd xfce4-panel-<version>
+    % ./configure
+    % make
+    % make install
+
+### Reporting Bugs
+
+Visit the [reporting bugs](https://docs.xfce.org/xfce/xfce4-panel/bugs) page to view currently open bug reports and instructions on reporting new bugs or submitting bugfixes.
+
diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index 93fde508a73fad177d1b99bd49494392b444d1c4..adfbfaef09269e2f8fe708adc903d0434691a881 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ dnl ***************************
 dnl *** Initialize automake ***
 dnl ***************************
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.8 no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2 tar-ustar])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.8 no-dist-gzip dist-bzip2 tar-ustar foreign])
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE()
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIRS([m4])
 m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])