--- bbdb/lisp/Makefile.am
+++ bbdb/lisp/Makefile.am
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@
 	  echo "*** Delete these files; do not load them from your init file ***") && \
 	  false ; \
 	fi
-	@echo "(provide 'bbdb-loaddefs)" > $@;
+	@echo ";;; $@ -*- lexical-binding: t -*-" > $@
+	@echo "(provide 'bbdb-loaddefs)" >> $@;
 	@echo "(if (and load-file-name (file-name-directory load-file-name))" >> $@;
 	@echo "    (add-to-list 'load-path (file-name-directory load-file-name)))" >> $@;
 	@echo "" >> $@;