diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4ea7523473fbbc4e5515600fb09efad0bd5e1bb0..239493d4c34047a432a2ec80533354be1c70bbba 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ ifneq ($(PORT), 0)
 	PELICANOPTS += -p $(PORT)
 endif
 
+.PHONY: default
+default: html
 
 help:
 	@echo 'Makefile for a pelican Web site                                           '