diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e94c04f6e..61fe494ca 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -51,3 +51,8 @@ dist/
 
 # Windows Application Icon/Resource
 *.syso
+
+# Keep embedded backend dist directory placeholder in VCS
+!web/backend/dist/
+web/backend/dist/*
+!web/backend/dist/.gitkeep
diff --git a/web/backend/dist/.gitkeep b/web/backend/dist/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb