diff --git a/doc/build/Makefile b/doc/build/Makefile
index 328fa513fd..80d9796d41 100644
--- a/doc/build/Makefile
+++ b/doc/build/Makefile
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ devhelp:
 	@echo "# devhelp"
 
 epub:
-	$(SPHINXBUILD) -b epub $(ALLSPHINXOPTS) $(BUILDDIR)/epub
+	$(SPHINXBUILD) -b epub -A mako_layout=epub $(ALLSPHINXOPTS) $(BUILDDIR)/epub
 	@echo
 	@echo "Build finished. The epub file is in $(BUILDDIR)/epub."
 
diff --git a/doc/build/templates/layout.mako b/doc/build/templates/layout.mako
index db4da83992..99ce9d753a 100644
--- a/doc/build/templates/layout.mako
+++ b/doc/build/templates/layout.mako
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@
 
 <%inherit file="${context['base']}"/>
 
+<%
+    if mako_layout == 'epub':
+        next.body()
+        return
+%>
+
+
 <%
 withsidebar = bool(toc) and current_page_name != 'index'
 %>