diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8a8eaed7..8add7986 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ init:
 dist:
 	rm -rf .dist/ $(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION).tar.gz
 	mkdir -p .dist/$(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION)
-	rsync -a --exclude=".github"  --exclude=".vscode" --exclude "*~" * .dist/$(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION)/
+	rsync -a --exclude=".github"  --exclude=".vscode" --exclude "*~" --exclude $(WAREWULF)-*.tar.gz * .dist/$(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION)/
 	scripts/get-version.sh >.dist/$(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION)/VERSION
 	cd .dist; tar -czf ../$(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION).tar.gz $(WAREWULF)-$(VERSION)
 	rm -rf .dist