diff --git a/build-aux/update-subdirs b/build-aux/update-subdirs
index d544b226951..f0ce03992f2 100755
--- a/build-aux/update-subdirs
+++ b/build-aux/update-subdirs
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ else
 ;; Local" "Variables:
 ;; version-control: never
 ;; no-byte-compile: t
+;; no-update-autoloads: t
 ;; End:" > subdirs.el~
   if cmp "subdirs.el" "subdirs.el~" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     rm subdirs.el~