diff --git a/docs/CMakeLists.txt b/docs/CMakeLists.txt
index bc00ca12..8c7b9b92 100644
--- a/docs/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/docs/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -94,4 +94,9 @@ else()
         DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/doc/${PROJECT_NAME}
         COMPONENT Documentation
         OPTIONAL)
+
+    # make docs --> generate sphinx documentation
+    add_custom_target(
+        docs
+        DEPENDS sphinx)
 endif()