diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 5f5f4befb9..d57261e3ad 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ guest_agent_ntddscsi="no"
 guest_agent_msi=""
 vss_win32_sdk=""
 win_sdk="no"
-want_tools="yes"
+want_tools=""
 libiscsi=""
 libnfs=""
 coroutine=""
@@ -2213,6 +2213,16 @@ else
     echo big/little test failed
 fi
 
+##########################################
+# system tools
+if test -z "$want_tools"; then
+    if test "$softmmu" = "no"; then
+        want_tools=no
+    else
+        want_tools=yes
+    fi
+fi
+
 ##########################################
 # cocoa implies not SDL or GTK
 # (the cocoa UI code currently assumes it is always the active UI