diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b3f3b78a40..f32722697b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ lnInclude
 # linux build folder(s) - anywhere
 linux*Gcc*
 
+# reinstate wmake/rules that look like build folders
+!wmake/rules/linux*
+# but do ignore the derived files in there
+wmake/rules/linux*/dirToString
+wmake/rules/linux*/wmkdep
+
 # doxygen generated documentation
 doc/[Dd]oxygen/html
 doc/[Dd]oxygen/latex