diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f2dbdee06..39d1c88d9 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ integration tests.
 
 ```bash
 export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=/path/to/service/account.json
+export IT_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_EMAIL=my-service-account@my-project.gserviceaccount.com
 mvn -Penable-integration-tests clean verify
 ```
 
diff --git a/synth.py b/synth.py
index 7e8a9a3dc..23c93c7c2 100644
--- a/synth.py
+++ b/synth.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 AUTOSYNTH_MULTIPLE_COMMITS = True
 
 java.common_templates(excludes=[
-  '.kokoro/presubmit/integration.cfg'
+  '.kokoro/presubmit/integration.cfg',
+  'CONTRIBUTING.md'
 ])