diff --git a/manual/wscript b/manual/wscript
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2e29c0baef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manual/wscript
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+import os
+
+top = '.'
+out = 'build'
+
+def configure(conf):
+    pass
+
+def build(bld):
+
+    subst_dict = {}
+    subst_dict['ARDOUR_VERSION'] = bld.env['VERSION']
+
+    obj = bld(features = 'subst')
+    obj.name = 'manual'
+    obj.source = [ 'xml/entities.ent.in' ]
+    obj.target = [ 'ent/entities.ent' ]
+    obj.dict = subst_dict
+
+def options(opt):
+    pass