diff --git a/BUILD b/BUILD
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a14f3eec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BUILD
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# barebone build file for bazel (http://bazel.io)
+cc_library(
+    name = "z",
+    srcs = [
+        "adler32.c",
+        "compress.c",
+        "crc32.c",
+        "deflate.c",
+        "infback.c",
+        "inffast.c",
+        "inflate.c",
+        "inftrees.c",
+        "trees.c",
+        "uncompr.c",
+        "zutil.c",
+    ],
+    hdrs = [
+        "crc32.h",
+        "deflate.h",
+        "gzguts.h",
+        "inffast.h",
+        "inffixed.h",
+        "inflate.h",
+        "inftrees.h",
+        "trees.h",
+        "zconf.h",
+        "zlib.h",
+        "zutil.h",
+    ],
+    includes = [
+        "include",
+    ],
+    linkstatic = 1,
+    visibility = [
+        "//visibility:public",
+    ],
+)
diff --git a/WORKSPACE b/WORKSPACE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a25f799b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/WORKSPACE
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# empty WORKSPACE file to get bazel build (http://bazel.io) working