diff --git a/src/docs/Makefile b/src/docs/Makefile
index f35a1914..201fd6f8 100644
--- a/src/docs/Makefile
+++ b/src/docs/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ BUILD_DIR=$(BUILDROOT)/docs
 
 VERSION=Unknown
 
+# Building documentation under CentOS causes xmlto to have issues
+# with validation. Disable this step.
+VALIDATION=$(shell ( lsb_release -d | grep CentOS > /dev/null 2>&1 ) \
+       && echo "--skip-validation" )
+
 all: man userguide devguide supportfiles index
 
 userguide: $(BUILD_DIR)/SqoopUserGuide.html
@@ -53,7 +58,7 @@ man: $(MANPAGES)
 
 %.1.gz : %.txt
 	asciidoc --unsafe -b docbook -d manpage -a "author=Sqoop Team" $<
-	xmlto man $*.xml -o man
+	xmlto man $(VALIDATION) $*.xml -o man
 	gzip $*.1
 	rm $*.xml
 	mkdir -p $(BUILD_DIR)