diff --git a/deployment-script.sh b/deployment-script.sh
index 2950f2c..b2e6e36 100755
--- a/deployment-script.sh
+++ b/deployment-script.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ if [ -n "`shopt globstar | grep off`" ]; then shopt -s globstar; fi
 # prepare build directory tree and static files
 rm -r ./build
 cp -r ./src ./build
-rm ./build/**/*.{php,html,css,svg}
+rm ./build/**/{README.md,*.{php,html,css,svg}}
+touch ./build/.placeholder
 
 # run the macro handler
 echo "`cd src; find -name "*.php" -or -name "*.html" -or -name "*.css" -or -name "*.svg" | sed 's/^/file=/;s/$/\; python3 variable_grabbler.py macros\/pass0\*.json src\/$file | python3 variable_grabbler.py macros\/pass1\*.json - | python3 variable_grabbler.py macros\/pass2\*.json - | python3 variable_grabbler.py macros\/pass3\*.json - > build\/$file/'`" | bash -