diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 314bc007f379..c62b07ebd6c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -417,9 +417,11 @@ readthedocs theme.
 ```bash
 cd docs/
 pip install -r requirements.txt
+make html
+make serve
 ```
-You can then build the documentation by running `make <format>` from the
-`docs/` folder. Run `make` to get a list of all available output formats.
+
+Run `make` to get a list of all available output formats.
 
 If you get a katex error run `npm install katex`.  If it persists, try
 `npm install -g katex`
diff --git a/docs/Makefile b/docs/Makefile
index c6df057d8a6a..36e428cf4de9 100644
--- a/docs/Makefile
+++ b/docs/Makefile
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ html-stable:
 	# See conf.py for more details.
 	RELEASE=1 make html
 
-.PHONY: help Makefile docset onnx exportdb
+.PHONY: help Makefile docset onnx exportdb serve
+
+serve:
+	@cd $(BUILDDIR)/html && $(PYCMD) -m http.server $(PORT)
 
 # Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
 # "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).