diff --git a/.Rbuildignore b/.Rbuildignore
index 9620b84d1d..3f2168739c 100644
--- a/.Rbuildignore
+++ b/.Rbuildignore
@@ -47,3 +47,4 @@ coverage.*
 ^revdep$
 ^\.covrignore$
 ^inst/cheatsheet$
+^inst/userguide$
diff --git a/inst/userguide/PLACEHOLDER.md b/inst/userguide/PLACEHOLDER.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0d29e9bc51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inst/userguide/PLACEHOLDER.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+This is a placeholder for the completed version of the user guide. 
+
+Please leave comments on the Google Slides.