diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 566dd31b..989f79c7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ libvips/include/vips/version.h
 fred
 ltmain.sh
 m4/gtk-doc.m4
+m4/intltool.m4
 m4/libtool.m4
 m4/lt~obsolete.m4
 m4/ltoptions.m4
diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 293e446c..89faf2e9 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ test -r aclocal.m4 || touch aclocal.m4
 # it ... hopefully any errors will go to stderr and not be hidden
 glib-gettextize --force --copy > /dev/null
 test -r aclocal.m4 && chmod u+w aclocal.m4
-#intltoolize --copy --force --automake
+intltoolize --copy --force --automake
+aclocal -I m4
 autoconf
 autoheader
 $LIBTOOLIZE --copy --force --automake