diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0443c544..f38456ce 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ option(DEBUG "Build for debugging." OFF)
 option(ICON_UPDATE "Run gtk-update-icon-cache after the install." ON)
 option(DESKTOP_UPDATE "Run update-desktop-database after the install." ON)
 option(DESKTOP_VALIDATE "Check generated desktop file for errors during build." ON)
+option(TRANSLATE_HELP "Generate and install translated help documentation." ON)
 
 if (DEBUG)
     message(STATUS "Debug build")
@@ -45,6 +46,10 @@ if (DESKTOP_VALIDATE)
     message(STATUS "Generated desktop file will be checked for errors")
 endif ()
 
+if (TRANSLATE_HELP)
+    message(STATUS "Help translations will be generated and installed")
+endif ()
+
 find_package(PkgConfig)
 pkg_check_modules(LIBUNITY QUIET unity>=5.12.0)
 pkg_check_modules(LIBMESSAGINGMENU QUIET messaging-menu>=12.10.2)
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 8d69fe57..89fb4c74 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ configure_help() {
 	                        Disable checking for errors in generated desktop file.
 	  --disable-icon-update
 	                        Disable icon cache update.
+	  --disable-documentation
+	                        Disable generating and installing translated help documentation.
 
 	Some influential environment variables:
 	  PKG_CONFIG_PATH       Adds directories to pkg-config's search path.
@@ -104,6 +106,10 @@ do
         --disable-desktop-validate)
                             CMDLINE="${CMDLINE} -DDESKTOP_VALIDATE=OFF"
                             ;;
+
+        --disable-documentation)
+                            CMDLINE="${CMDLINE} -DTRANSLATE_HELP=OFF"
+                            ;;
         
         VALAC)              [ ! $value ] && abort $1
                             VALAC=$value
diff --git a/help/CMakeLists.txt b/help/CMakeLists.txt
index f726d417..697f30a8 100644
--- a/help/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/help/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,12 +29,6 @@ endforeach()
 install(FILES ${HELP_SOURCE} DESTINATION ${HELP_DEST}/C)
 install(FILES C/figures/geary.svg DESTINATION ${HELP_DEST}/C/figures)
 
-
-FIND_PROGRAM(XML2PO_BIN xml2po)
-IF(NOT XML2PO_BIN)
-    MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "xml2po not found")
-ENDIF()
-
 # Hacked together from the similar macro in cmake/Gettext.cmake.
 MACRO(HELP_CREATE_TRANSLATIONS _firstLang)
     SET(_translatedPages)
@@ -78,4 +72,11 @@ MACRO(HELP_CREATE_TRANSLATIONS _firstLang)
     ENDIF()
 ENDMACRO()
 
-HELP_CREATE_TRANSLATIONS(ALL ${TRANSLATED} COMMENT "Translating help docs.")
+IF(TRANSLATE_HELP)
+    FIND_PROGRAM(XML2PO_BIN xml2po)
+    IF(NOT XML2PO_BIN)
+        MESSAGE(FATAL_ERROR "xml2po not found")
+    ENDIF()
+
+    HELP_CREATE_TRANSLATIONS(ALL ${TRANSLATED} COMMENT "Translating help docs.")
+ENDIF()