diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 238ee54..3bbdfce 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@
     AC_SUBST([OESDK_TESTCASE_FLAGS], [$testcase_flags])
 )
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([json],
+    AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-json], [Use json at runtime to configure fan packages.]))
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([presence],
     AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-presence], [Disable fan presence package.]))
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([control],
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([monitor],
     AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-monitor], [Disable monitor]))
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_JSON], [test "x$enable_json" == "xyes"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_PRESENCE], [test "x$enable_presence" != "xno"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_CONTROL], [test "x$enable_control" != "xno"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_COOLING_TYPE], [test "x$enable_cooling_type" != "xno"])
@@ -74,9 +77,18 @@
 
 # Package specific checks.
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_presence" != "xno"], [
-       # Add optional yaml file argument
-       AC_ARG_VAR(PRESENCE_CONFIG,
-                  [The fan presence config file.])
+    # Use runtime(json) config, otherwise default to compile time(yaml) config
+    AM_COND_IF([WANT_JSON],
+    [
+        AC_CHECK_HEADER(nlohmann/json.hpp, ,
+                [AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not find nlohmann/json.hpp... nlohmann/json package required])])
+        # Set config flag for runtime json usage
+        AC_DEFINE([PRESENCE_USE_JSON], [1], [Fan presence use runtime json configuration])
+        AC_MSG_NOTICE([Fan presence json configuration usage enabled])
+    ],
+    [
+        # Add optional yaml file argument
+        AC_ARG_VAR(PRESENCE_CONFIG, [The fan presence config file.])
 
        AS_IF([test "x$PRESENCE_CONFIG" == "x"],
              [PRESENCE_CONFIG="\${top_srcdir}/presence/example/example.yaml"])
@@ -86,9 +98,9 @@
 
        AC_SUBST([PFPGEN],
                 ["$PYTHON \${top_srcdir}/presence/pfpgen.py generate-cpp -i $PRESENCE_CONFIG"])
-
-       AC_CONFIG_FILES([presence/Makefile])
-       ])
+    ])
+    AC_CONFIG_FILES([presence/Makefile])
+])
 
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_control" != "xno"], [
        # Add fan control Dbus attributes
diff --git a/presence/Makefile.am b/presence/Makefile.am
index 528de54..a9e62d3 100644
--- a/presence/Makefile.am
+++ b/presence/Makefile.am
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@
 	-flto \
 	$(STDPLUS_CFLAGS)
 
+if !WANT_JSON
 BUILT_SOURCES = generated.hpp
 TEMPLATES = \
 	templates/generated.mako.hpp
 
 generated.hpp: $(TEMPLATES) ${srcdir}/pfpgen.py $(PRESENCE_CONFIG)
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(PFPGEN) > $(builddir)/$@
+endif