diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 11daca5aa..855b4faf9 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -831,6 +831,7 @@ enable_pthread
 enable_locking
 with_group
 with_gphoto2
+with_v4l
 enable_avahi
 with_snmp
 enable_libusb_1_0
@@ -1539,6 +1540,7 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-docdir=DIR       documentation [PREFIX/doc/sane-VERSION]
   --with-group            use the specified group for lock dir [default=uucp]
   --with-gphoto2          include the gphoto2 backend [default=yes]
+  --with-v4l              include the v4l backend [default=yes]
   --with-snmp             enable SNMP support [default=yes]
   --with-pic[=PKGS]       try to use only PIC/non-PIC objects [default=use
                           both]
@@ -7661,6 +7663,15 @@ done
 
 
 
+# Check whether --with-v4l was given.
+if test "${with_v4l+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_v4l; # If --with-v4l=no or --without-v4l, disable backend
+             # as "$with_v4l" will be set to "no"
+fi
+
+
+if test "$with_v4l" != "no" ; then
+
 pkg_failed=no
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for LIBV4L" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for LIBV4L... " >&6; }
@@ -7731,8 +7742,7 @@ else
 $as_echo "yes" >&6; }
 	have_libv4l1=yes
 fi
-
-
+fi
 
 # Check whether --enable-avahi was given.
 if test "${enable_avahi+set}" = set; then :
@@ -17979,6 +17989,9 @@ for be in ${BACKENDS}; do
 done
 
 
+
+
+
 if test "${sane_cv_use_libjpeg}" = "yes"; then
   SANEI_SANEI_JPEG_LO="../sanei/sanei_jpeg.lo"
 fi