diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3af2f9ec..32205bb5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
 		 tools/similarity/Makefile
 		 tools/metadata/Makefile])
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([tools],
+	      [AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-tools], [Build the tools])],
+	      [:],
+	      [enable_tools=no])
+
+AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_TOOLS], [test "$enable_tools" = "yes"])
+
 AC_OUTPUT
 
-
diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index 52252310..ce4f09cc 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
+if BUILD_TOOLS
 SUBDIRS = similarity metadata
+endif