--- a/src/configure.ac
+++ b/src/configure.ac
@@ -251,6 +251,13 @@
 fi
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(MAKEPYTHON, [test X$pythonEnabled = Xyes])
+
+# Disable building the libchm python wrapper
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(python-chm, AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-python-chm],
+    [Do not build the libchm Python wrapper.]),
+    pythonChmEnabled=$enableval, pythonChmEnabled=yes)
+
+AM_CONDITIONAL(MAKEPYTHONCHM, [test X$pythonChmEnabled = Xyes])
 
 
 AC_CHECK_FUNCS(mkdtemp)