diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3a7d051bb38..98dae9feaf9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ via Github pull requests.
 * [Release notes](http://docs.cloudstack.apache.org/projects/cloudstack-release-notes)
 * Design [documents](https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/CLOUDSTACK/Design)
 * API [documentation](http://cloudstack.apache.org/docs/api)
+* How to [contribute](CONTRIBUTING.md)
 
 ## Getting Involved and Contributing
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index f0980fd5d70..7cf6735856b 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -716,6 +716,7 @@
               <exclude>CHANGES.md</exclude>
               <exclude>README.md</exclude>
               <exclude>INSTALL.md</exclude>
+              <exclude>CONTRIBUTING.md</exclude>
               <exclude>Dockerfile</exclude>
               <exclude>supervisord.conf</exclude>
               <exclude>.idea/</exclude>