diff --git a/cde/doc/C/Makefile.am b/cde/doc/C/Makefile.am
index b30c5638c..a8b049e27 100644
--- a/cde/doc/C/Makefile.am
+++ b/cde/doc/C/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = Makefile.in
 
-SUBDIRS = m-guides man guides help 
-
+if !NETBSD
+SUBDIRS = m-guides man guides help
+else
+# building the guides on netbsd (9.2) doesn't work currently
+SUBDIRS = m-guides man help
+endif