diff --git a/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
index 8e70617..9f6b6db 100644
--- a/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
+++ b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ Create the release tarballs:
     echo .git > excludes
     tar -czf json-c-${release}.tar.gz -X excludes json-c-${release}
 
-    echo doc >> excludes
+    echo 'doc/*' >> excludes
     tar -czf json-c-${release}-nodoc.tar.gz -X excludes json-c-${release}
 
 ------------