diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 60b7a74a..d410b17b 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -215,7 +215,9 @@ TESTS = $(unit_tests)
 
 manual_pages = doc/iwmon.1
 
+if BUILD_DOCS
 dist_man_MANS = $(manual_pages)
+endif
 
 EXTRA_DIST = $(manual_pages:.1=.txt)
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f50dba75..124728ff 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CONFIGDIR, "/etc/iwd", [Configuration directory])
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS(linux/types.h linux/if_alg.h)
 
 AC_PATH_PROG(A2X, [a2x], [], $PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_DOCS, test "$A2X" != "")
 
 AC_CONFIG_FILES(Makefile)