diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 663b9f0..e00d481 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ include /usr/share/dpkg/buildflags.mk
 %:
 	dh $@ --with autotools-dev --with systemd
 
+override_dh_install:
+	dh_install
+	# original installation has duplicate docs for knock and knockd
+	rm -rf debian/knockd/usr/share/doc/knock
+
 # the standard config is unsafe
 override_dh_systemd_enable:
 	dh_systemd_enable --no-enable