diff --git a/cmd/compile/main.go b/cmd/compile/main.go
index 3c727d0..68d3a15 100644
--- a/cmd/compile/main.go
+++ b/cmd/compile/main.go
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ func run() error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dstFolder, "placeholder.go"), []byte(`package dist
+
+// empty package so we can use the go tool with this repository
+`), 0755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/dist/placeholder.go b/dist/placeholder.go
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2e4a8bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/placeholder.go
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+package dist
+
+// empty package so we can use the go tool with this repository