diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index b066d0c9..79e31553 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -132,16 +132,19 @@ TESTS = $(vkd3d_tests) $(vkd3d_cross_tests)
 tests_d3d12_LDADD = $(LDADD) @PTHREAD_LIBS@
 tests_vkd3d_api_LDADD = libvkd3d.la @VULKAN_LIBS@
 
+if BUILD_DEMOS
 DEMOS_LDADD = $(LDADD) libvkd3d-shader.la @XCB_LIBS@ @VULKAN_LIBS@
 DEMOS_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS) @XCB_CFLAGS@
 noinst_PROGRAMS += $(vkd3d_demos)
-EXTRA_DIST += $(vkd3d_test_headers) $(vkd3d_demos_headers)
 
 demos_gears_CFLAGS = $(DEMOS_CFLAGS)
 demos_gears_LDADD = $(DEMOS_LDADD) -lm
 
 demos_triangle_CFLAGS = $(DEMOS_CFLAGS)
 demos_triangle_LDADD = $(DEMOS_LDADD)
+endif
+
+EXTRA_DIST += $(vkd3d_test_headers) $(vkd3d_demos_headers)
 
 VKD3D_V_WIDL = $(vkd3d_v_widl_@AM_V@)
 vkd3d_v_widl_ = $(vkd3d_v_widl_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2773a155..a6104498 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ AC_ARG_VAR([CROSSCC32], [32-bit Windows cross compiler])
 AC_ARG_VAR([CROSSCC64], [64-bit Windows cross compiler])
 AC_ARG_WITH([spirv-tools], AS_HELP_STRING([--with-spirv-tools],
                                           [Build with SPIRV-Tools library (default: disabled)]))
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([demos], AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-demos], [Build demo programs (default: disabled)]))
 
 AC_USE_SYSTEM_EXTENSIONS
 
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ VKD3D_CHECK_FUNC([HAVE_SYNC_SUB_AND_FETCH], [__sync_sub_and_fetch], [__sync_sub_
 
 VKD3D_CHECK_LIB_FUNCS([pthread_setname_np], [$PTHREAD_LIBS])
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_DEMOS], [test "x$enable_demos" = "xyes"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_WIDL], [test "x$WIDL" != "xno"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_CROSSTARGET32], [test "x$CROSSTARGET32" != "xno"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_CROSSTARGET64], [test "x$CROSSTARGET64" != "xno"])