diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 129ecfa8..56f3141d 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -92,10 +92,11 @@ dist-hook:
 	cd "$(distdir)" && $(SHELL) "build-aux/license-check.sh"
 
 # This works with GNU tar and gives cleaner package than normal 'make dist'.
-# This also ensures that the man page translations are up to date (dist-hook
+# This also ensures that the translations are up to date (dist-hook
 # would be too late for that).
 mydist:
 	$(SHELL) "$(srcdir)/src/liblzma/validate_map.sh"
+	cd po && $(MAKE) xz.pot-update
 	cd "$(srcdir)/po4a" && $(SHELL) update-po
 	VERSION=$(VERSION); \
 	if test -d "$(srcdir)/.git" && type git > /dev/null 2>&1; then \
diff --git a/po/Makevars b/po/Makevars
index 8f97f7de..91087890 100644
--- a/po/Makevars
+++ b/po/Makevars
@@ -84,4 +84,8 @@ PO_DEPENDS_ON_POT = yes
 # regenerate PO files on "make dist".  Possible values are "yes" and
 # "no".  Set this to no if the POT file and PO files are maintained
 # externally.
-DIST_DEPENDS_ON_UPDATE_PO = yes
+#
+# NOTE: The the custom "mydist" target in ../Makefile.am updates xz.pot.
+# An updated xz.pot will cause the .po files to be updated too but
+# only when updating would change more than the POT-Creation-Date line.
+DIST_DEPENDS_ON_UPDATE_PO = no