diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 97d92903..cd5dc4eb 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ MAKEINFO = makeinfo --no-split
 
 EXTRA_DIST =	AUTHORS BUGS COPYING ChangeLog INSTALL NEWS README \
 		TODO install-sh missing mkinstalldirs nano.1 nano.1.html \
-		faq.html
+		faq.html nanorc.sample
 
 SUBDIRS = po intl
 
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index e4498f52..439c29fd 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ nano_LDADD = @INTLLIBS@
 info_TEXINFOS = nano.texi
 MAKEINFO = makeinfo --no-split
 
-EXTRA_DIST = AUTHORS BUGS COPYING ChangeLog INSTALL NEWS README 		TODO install-sh missing mkinstalldirs nano.1 nano.1.html 		faq.html
+EXTRA_DIST = AUTHORS BUGS COPYING ChangeLog INSTALL NEWS README 		TODO install-sh missing mkinstalldirs nano.1 nano.1.html 		faq.html nanorc.sample
 
 
 SUBDIRS = po intl
diff --git a/nanorc.sample b/nanorc.sample
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb902111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nanorc.sample
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Sample initialization file for GNU nano
+# Please note that you must have configured nano with 
+# --enable-nanorc for this file to be read!
+
+# Use regular expressions by default 
+# set regexp 
+
+# Constantly update the cursor position
+# set const
+
+# Use cut to end of line with ^K by default
+# set cut
+
+# Use Auto-indentation
+# set autoindent
+
+# Don't follow symlinks when writing files
+# set nofollow
+
+# Use Pico Compatibility mode for ths shortcut lists and search text
+# set pico
+
+# Use this value instead of the default
+# set fill -8
+
+# Use this spelling checker instead of the default one
+# set speller aspell
+
+# Save automatically on exit, don't prompt
+# set tempfile
+
+# Disallow file modification, why would you want this in an rc file? ;)
+# set view
+
+# Don't wrap text at all
+# set nowrap
+
+# Don't display the help lists at the bottom of the screen
+# set nohelp
+
+# Allow nano to be suepended with ^Z
+# set suspend
+