--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -525,9 +525,9 @@
 dnl * Ruby support                                   *
 dnl **************************************************
 
-
-AM_PATH_RUBY(,with_ruby=yes, with_ruby=no)
+AC_ARG_WITH(ruby, AC_HELP_STRING(--with-ruby@<:@=PATH@:>@, Enable support for ruby binding @<:@default=auto@:>@),,with_ruby=no)
 if test x$with_ruby != xno; then
+    AM_PATH_RUBY(,with_ruby=yes, with_ruby=no)
     RUBY_ARCHDIR=`$RUBY -e 'require "rbconfig.rb"; puts RbConfig::expand("\$(archdir)")'`
     RUBY_LIBRUBYARG=`$RUBY -e 'require "rbconfig.rb"; puts RbConfig::expand("\$(LIBRUBYARG)")'`