diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ AC_FUNC_MALLOC
 AC_TYPE_PID_T
 AC_TYPE_SIZE_T
 
+# selective compilation
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([server],
+	[AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-server],[Don't build the distren server])],
+	[enable_server=$enableval],
+	[enable_server=yes])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([ENABLE_SERVER],
+	[test "x$enable_server" = "xyes"])
+
 # to grab GNU-specific function prototypes for the following functions:
 # getline
 AC_DEFINE([_GNU_SOURCE], [1])