diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 59633c3dd03a2e97551047c2c140b13bb54ef22f..184268ea8c615023867f4b2852cdd6a197e90620 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ libopusurl_la_LIBADD = libopusfile.la $(URL_DEPS_LIBS)
 libopusurl_la_LDFLAGS = -no-undefined \
  -version-info @OP_LT_CURRENT@:@OP_LT_REVISION@:@OP_LT_AGE@
 
+if OP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES
 noinst_PROGRAMS = examples/opusfile_example examples/seeking_example
+endif
 
 examples_opusfile_example_SOURCES = examples/opusfile_example.c
 examples_seeking_example_SOURCES = examples/seeking_example.c
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d68666cc97a91a5bacb1b9ae0bfe924c0d57a10b..83de37d76be9b6f532c6138bc45fadb3f6765c4b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ AS_IF([test "$enable_fixed_point" = "yes"],
   ]
 )
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([examples],
+  AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-examples], [Disable building of examples]),,
+  enable_examples=yes)
+AM_CONDITIONAL([OP_ENABLE_EXAMPLES], [test "$enable_examples" = "yes"])
+
 AS_CASE(["$ac_cv_search_lrintf"],
   ["no"],[],
   ["none required"],[],
@@ -172,6 +177,7 @@ AC_MSG_NOTICE([
 
     Hidden visibility ............ ${cc_cv_flag_visibility}
 
+    Building Examples ............ ${enable_examples}
     API documentation ............ ${enable_doc}
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ])