diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index a119b099cb..a1f1943adb 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ if test -d .git || test -f .git; then
     expected_hash=$(cat "$state_file" 2>/dev/null)
     actual_hash=$(gnulib_hash "$no_git")
 
-    if test "$actual_hash" = "$expected_hash" && test -f AUTHORS; then
+    if test "$actual_hash" = "$expected_hash"; then
         # The gnulib hash matches our expectations, and all the files
         # that can only be generated through bootstrap are present:
         # we just need to run autoreconf. Unless we're performing a
diff --git a/bootstrap.conf b/bootstrap.conf
index 5ff3374ded..4159199d08 100644
--- a/bootstrap.conf
+++ b/bootstrap.conf
@@ -120,9 +120,6 @@ xmllint	   -
 xsltproc   -
 "
 
-# Automake requires that AUTHORS exist.
-touch AUTHORS || exit 1
-
 # Override bootstrap's list - we don't use mdate-sh or texinfo.tex.
 gnulib_extra_files="
         build-aux/install-sh