diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 8999698bc2793cbfdc05a215ae696be5dbb2d588..d2fc3463022e4126327dd58845702e54bdae4f34 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -6079,7 +6079,9 @@ fi
 # Probe for guest agent support/options
 
 if [ "$guest_agent" != "no" ]; then
-  if [ "$linux" = "yes" -o "$bsd" = "yes" -o "$solaris" = "yes" -o "$mingw32" = "yes" ] ; then
+  if [ "$softmmu" = no -a "$want_tools" = no ] ; then
+      guest_agent=no
+  elif [ "$linux" = "yes" -o "$bsd" = "yes" -o "$solaris" = "yes" -o "$mingw32" = "yes" ] ; then
       tools="qemu-ga $tools"
       guest_agent=yes
   elif [ "$guest_agent" != yes ]; then