diff --git a/meta/files/deploydir_readme.txt b/meta/files/deploydir_readme.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97ec185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meta/files/deploydir_readme.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+Files in the deploy directory will not be re-created automatically if you
+delete them. If you do delete a file, you will need to run:
+
+  bitbake -c clean TARGET
+  bitbake TARGET
+
+where TARGET is the name of the appropriate package or target e.g.
+"virtual/kernel" for the kernel, an image, etc.