diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
index 74905cd59..c01b5eed7 100755
--- a/tools/release.sh
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -205,7 +205,9 @@ then
 	else	REVTAG=`(cd $srcdir && git show-ref HEAD -s10)`
 		echo "Retrieved repository head is $REVTAG."
 	fi
-	rm -r $srcdir/.git
+	if [ $MINIMAL -ne 0 ]
+	then	rm -r $srcdir/.git
+	fi
 	echo "
 /* Added by release script  */
 #ifndef _VCS_REVISION