diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8a9e8180..eaf9ea91 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -684,6 +684,14 @@ if test "x${have_openpmd}" = xyes; then
 fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_OPENPMD, [test "x${have_openpmd}" = xyes])
 
+hdf5_examples=yes
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([hdf5-examples],
+   [AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-hdf5-examples],
+                   [Disable hdf5 examples. @<:@default: enabled@:>@])],
+   [hdf5_examples=${enableval}], [hdf5_examples=yes]
+)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HDF5_EXAMPLES, [test "x${hdf5_examples}" = xyes])
+
 dnl Configuration Date
 dnl Note that command 'date' is not portable across Unix platforms
 if test "x$SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH" != x ; then
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index b209b5ef..eb34ad56 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -58,9 +58,13 @@ SH_LOG_COMPILER =
 
 TESTS = $(TESTPROGRAMS)
 
-C_SUBDIRS = hdf5_examples
+C_SUBDIRS =
 
-DIST_SUBDIRS = $(C_SUBDIRS) 
+if HDF5_EXAMPLES
+    C_SUBDIRS += hdf5_examples
+endif
+
+DIST_SUBDIRS = hdf5_examples
 
 SUBDIRS = . $(C_SUBDIRS)