diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 87b88ec0..ec2f12af 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ uptime_SOURCES = uptime.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/fileutils.c
 vmstat_SOURCES = vmstat.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/fileutils.c
 w_SOURCES = w.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/fileutils.c
 
+if EXAMPLE_FILES
 sysconf_DATA = sysctl.conf
+endif
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \
 	autogen.sh \
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a493fa8f..e3f701bc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -187,6 +187,12 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([skill],
 )
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_SKILL, test "x$build_skill" = xyes)
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([examples],
+  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-examples], [add example files to installation]),
+  [], enable_examples=no
+)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(EXAMPLE_FILES, test "x$enable_examples" = xyes)
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([oomem],
   AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-oomem], [add out-of-memory fields to the library and top]),
   [], enable_oomem=no