diff --git a/lang/cpp/Makefile.am b/lang/cpp/Makefile.am
--- a/lang/cpp/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/cpp/Makefile.am
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@
 # License along with this program; if not, see <https://gnu.org/licenses/>.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
 
-SUBDIRS = src tests
+if RUN_GPG_TESTS
+tests = tests
+else
+tests =
+endif
+
+SUBDIRS = src ${tests}
 
 EXTRA_DIST = README
diff --git a/lang/python/Makefile.am b/lang/python/Makefile.am
--- a/lang/python/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/python/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@
 	gpgme.i \
 	helpers.c helpers.h private.h
 
-SUBDIRS = . tests examples doc src
+if RUN_GPG_TESTS
+tests = tests
+else
+tests =
+endif
+
+SUBDIRS = . ${tests} examples doc src
 
 .PHONY: prepare
 prepare: copystamp