diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2419e69f1..10b7c6ea5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -185,6 +185,10 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([ndev],
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([cluster],
     [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-cluster], [Enable cluster support, (experimental)])])
 
+# --enable-cmathtests: run the ancient tests in src/math/cmaths
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([cmathtests],
+    [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-cmathtests], [Enable ancient tests in src/math/cmaths])])
+
 # --enable-help: try to force --ansi option to the compiler
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([help],
     [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-help], [Force building nghelp (deprecated)])])
@@ -987,6 +991,8 @@ AX_PROG_BISON_VERSION([2.7], [],
      AC_MSG_WARN([Bison is older than 2.7])])
 AC_PROG_LEX
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([CMATHTESTS], [test "x$enable_cmathtests" = xyes])
+
 #################  XSPICE ##################################################
 # Add new code models to the build by pointing to them here.
 
diff --git a/src/maths/cmaths/Makefile.am b/src/maths/cmaths/Makefile.am
index 5c959e8f4..f85bbbf43 100644
--- a/src/maths/cmaths/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/maths/cmaths/Makefile.am
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ libcmaths_la_SOURCES = \
 		cmath4.c	\
 		cmath4.h
 
+if CMATHTESTS
 if !TCL_MODULE
 if !WINGUI
 if !SHARED_MODULE
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ TESTS = test_cx_mag test_cx_j test_cx_ph test_cx_cph
 endif !SHARED_MODULE
 endif !WINGUI
 endif !TCL_MODULE
+endif CMATHTESTS
 
 AM_CPPFLAGS = @AM_CPPFLAGS@ -I$(top_srcdir)/src/include -I$(top_srcdir)/src/maths/poly
 AM_CFLAGS = $(STATIC)