diff --git a/benchmarks/Makefile.am b/benchmarks/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6fad22d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmarks/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# additional include paths necessary to compile the C++ library
+AM_CXXFLAGS = -I$(top_srcdir)/lib
+AM_LDFLAGS = -L$(top_srcdir)/lib
+
+#
+# Test code
+#
+bin_PROGRAMS = Grid_wilson Grid_comms Grid_memory_bandwidth
+
+
+Grid_wilson_SOURCES = Grid_wilson.cc
+Grid_wilson_LDADD = -lGrid
+
+Grid_comms_SOURCES = Grid_comms.cc
+Grid_comms_LDADD = -lGrid
+
+Grid_memory_bandwidth_SOURCES = Grid_memory_bandwidth.cc
+Grid_memory_bandwidth_LDADD = -lGrid
+