diff --git a/obj/bin/.directory_holder b/obj/bin/.directory_holder
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0016c49a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/obj/bin/.directory_holder
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+This file exists to keep 'cvs update -P' from pruning this otherwise empty
+directory, since it is useful for the Makefile.list build system.
diff --git a/obj/lib/.directory_holder b/obj/lib/.directory_holder
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0016c49a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/obj/lib/.directory_holder
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+This file exists to keep 'cvs update -P' from pruning this otherwise empty
+directory, since it is useful for the Makefile.list build system.