diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a8ab0c1fe..6c8682aa8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -717,11 +717,15 @@ for backend in ${BACKENDS} ; do
   BACKEND_LIBS_ENABLED="${BACKEND_LIBS_ENABLED} libsane-${backend}.la"
   BACKEND_CONFS_ENABLED="${BACKEND_CONFS_ENABLED} ${backend}.conf"
   BACKEND_MANS_ENABLED="${BACKEND_MANS_ENABLED} sane-${backend}.5"
+  if test x$backend = xgenesys; then
+    with_genesys_tests=yes
+  fi
   if test x$backend = xumax_pp; then
     install_umax_pp_tools=yes
   fi
 done
 AC_SUBST(BACKEND_LIBS_ENABLED)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(WITH_GENESYS_TESTS, test xyes = x$with_genesys_tests)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(INSTALL_UMAX_PP_TOOLS, test xyes = x$install_umax_pp_tools)
 
 AC_ARG_VAR(PRELOADABLE_BACKENDS, [list of backends to preload into single DLL])
diff --git a/testsuite/backend/Makefile.am b/testsuite/backend/Makefile.am
index 1f7d30e85..e3dd32aa4 100644
--- a/testsuite/backend/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/backend/Makefile.am
@@ -4,4 +4,6 @@
 ##  This file is part of the "Sane" build infra-structure.  See
 ##  included LICENSE file for license information.
 
+if WITH_GENESYS_TESTS
 SUBDIRS = genesys
+endif