diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c2f53fccb4..4e4fd00c2f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
 *.patch
 *.cfgtmp
 
+# host programs on Cygwin
+*.exe
+
 # Build tree
 /build-*
 
diff --git a/tools/.gitignore b/tools/.gitignore
index 0eb9068dc7..cefe9235e2 100644
--- a/tools/.gitignore
+++ b/tools/.gitignore
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 /relocate-rela
 /ubsha1
 /xway-swap-bytes
-/*.exe
 /easylogo/easylogo
 /gdb/gdbcont
 /gdb/gdbsend