diff --git a/metadata/layout.conf b/metadata/layout.conf
index d43e61c..4d1ad6f 100644
--- a/metadata/layout.conf
+++ b/metadata/layout.conf
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
 masters = gentoo
+
+# manifests for files in repo don't make sense if git tracks them
+thin-manifests = true