diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 0ec2938a..b26ad1a9 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ usrbin_exec_PROGRAMS = \
 	pkill \
 	pmap \
 	pwdx \
-	skill \
-	snice \
 	tload \
 	uptime \
 	vmstat \
@@ -38,8 +36,6 @@ dist_man_MANS = \
 	pkill.1 \
 	pmap.1 \
 	pwdx.1 \
-	skill.1 \
-	snice.1 \
 	sysctl.8 \
 	sysctl.conf.5 \
 	tload.1 \
@@ -65,9 +61,18 @@ watch_SOURCES = watch.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
 watch_LDADD = @WATCH_NCURSES_LIBS@
 endif
 
-kill_SOURCES = skill.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
+if BUILD_SKILL
+usrbin_exec_PROGRAMS += \
+	skill \
+	snice
 skill_SOURCES = skill.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
 snice_SOURCES = skill.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
+dist_man_MANS += \
+	skill.1 \
+	snice.1
+endif
+
+kill_SOURCES = skill.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
 tload_SOURCES = tload.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
 pkill_SOURCES = pgrep.c
 free_SOURCES = free.c $(top_srcdir)/lib/strutils.c
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index cfdc9e73..66a56221 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -179,6 +179,12 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([kill],
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_KILL, test "x$enable_kill" = xyes)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(LINUX, test "x$host_os" = xlinux-gnu)
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([skill],
+  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-skill], [build skill and snice]),
+  [], enable_skill=no
+)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_SKILL, test "x$build_skill" = xyes)
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([oomem],
   AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-oomem], [add out-of-memory fields to the library and top]),
   [], enable_oomem=no