diff --git a/smtp/Makefile b/smtp/Makefile
index e69de29..cbbf7e1 100644
--- a/smtp/Makefile
+++ b/smtp/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+all: Makefile
+
+Makefile: Makefile
+	echo "Nothing to be done for smtp: this Makefile is a placeholder."
+
+clean:
+	echo "Nothing to be cleaned up for smtp: this rule is a placeholder."