diff --git a/vim/Makefile b/vim/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89e18be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vim/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+.PHONY: all help install link symlink
+
+FILES     = plugin/notmuch.vim \
+	    $(wildcard syntax/notmuch-*.vim)
+
+PREFIX    = $(shell ls -d ~/.vim/)
+
+OUT_FILES = $(FILES:%=${PREFIX}/%)
+
+all: help
+
+help:
+	@echo "I don't actually build anything, but I will help you install"
+	@echo "notmuch support for vim."
+	@echo
+	@echo "    make install     - copy plugin scripts and syntax files to ~/.vim"
+	@echo "    make symlink     - create symlinks in ~/.vim (useful for development)"
+
+install: ${OUT_FILES}
+link symlink:
+	${MAKE} SYMLINK=1 install
+
+${OUT_FILES}: ${PREFIX}/%: %
+	$(if ${SYMLINK},ln -fs,cp) `pwd`/$< $@