diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index abd64af..bb47bfa 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -88,7 +88,16 @@ fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_CUNIT], [ test "x${have_cunit}" = "xyes" ])
 
 # openssl (for examples)
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([OPENSSL], [openssl >= 1.0.1])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([OPENSSL], [openssl >= 1.0.1],
+                  [have_openssl=yes], [have_openssl=no])
+if test "x${have_openssl}" = "xno"; then
+  AC_MSG_NOTICE($OPENSSL_PKG_ERRORS)
+  AC_MSG_NOTICE([The example programs will not be built.])
+fi
+
+# The example programs depend on OpenSSL
+enable_examples=$have_openssl
+AM_CONDITIONAL([ENABLE_EXAMPLES], [ test "x${enable_examples}" = "xyes" ])
 
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([ \
@@ -152,4 +161,6 @@ AC_MSG_NOTICE([summary of build options:
     CFlags:         ${CFLAGS}
     Library types:  Shared=${enable_shared}, Static=${enable_static}
     CUnit:          ${have_cunit}
+    OpenSSL:        ${have_openssl}
+    Examples:       ${enable_examples}
 ])
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index 8e2f5ec..6b135c0 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 # OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
 # WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
+if ENABLE_EXAMPLES
+
 AM_CFLAGS = -Wall
 AM_CPPFLAGS = -Wall -I$(srcdir)/../lib/includes -I$(builddir)/../lib/includes \
 	@OPENSSL_CFLAGS@ @DEFS@
@@ -63,3 +65,5 @@ spdynative_SOURCES = ${HELPER_OBJECTS} ${HELPER_HFILES} \
 	${SPDY_SERVER_OBJECTS} ${SPDY_SERVER_HFILES} \
 	spdy.h spdynative.cc
 endif # HAVE_STDCXX_11
+
+endif # ENABLE_EXAMPLES
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index 6b88052..03e1904 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ main_LDFLAGS = -static @CUNIT_LIBS@
 AM_CFLAGS = -Wall -g -O2 -I${top_srcdir}/lib -I${top_srcdir}/lib/includes -I${top_builddir}/lib/includes \
 	@CUNIT_CFLAGS@ @DEFS@
 
-TESTS = main end_to_end.py
+TESTS = main
+
+if ENABLE_EXAMPLES
+
+TESTS += end_to_end.py
+
+endif # ENABLE_EXAMPLES
 
 endif # HAVE_CUNIT