diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 9dbe34a..8789663 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -86,4 +86,8 @@
 	$(CODE_COVERAGE_CXXFLAGS) \
 	-flto
 
-SUBDIRS = . test tools
+SUBDIRS = . test
+
+if BUILD_HOST_TOOL
+SUBDIRS += tools
+endif
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c5619e8..b555c76 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@
 AX_PTHREAD([], [AC_MSG_ERROR(["pthread required and not found"])])
 
 # Configurability
+
+# Enable building the host tool (default: yes)
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([build-host-tool],
+    AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-build-host-tool], [Disable building the host tool])
+)
+AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_HOST_TOOL], [test "x$enable_build_host_tool" != "xno"])
+
 # Enable static layout for firmware image staging.
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([static-layout],
     AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-static-layout],
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index c8eee3f..f0f87a4 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -32,10 +32,14 @@
 	firmware_delete_unittest \
 	firmware_sessionstat_unittest \
 	firmware_commit_unittest \
-	file_handler_unittest \
+	file_handler_unittest
+
+if BUILD_HOST_TOOL
+check_PROGRAMS += \
 	tools_bt_unittest \
 	tools_lpc_unittest \
 	tools_updater_unittest
+endif
 
 TESTS = $(check_PROGRAMS)
 
@@ -75,6 +79,7 @@
 file_handler_unittest_SOURCES = file_handler_unittest.cpp
 file_handler_unittest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/libfirmwareblob_common.la -lstdc++fs
 
+if BUILD_HOST_TOOL
 tools_bt_unittest_SOURCES = tools_bt_unittest.cpp
 tools_bt_unittest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/tools/libupdater.la
 
@@ -83,3 +88,4 @@
 
 tools_updater_unittest_SOURCES = tools_updater_unittest.cpp
 tools_updater_unittest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/tools/libupdater.la
+endif