diff --git a/docs/Makefile.am b/docs/Makefile.am
index 10847b58eb..8ff41fee10 100644
--- a/docs/Makefile.am
+++ b/docs/Makefile.am
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+if ENABLE_GTK_DOC
 if ENABLE_PLUGIN_DOCS
 PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS = plugins
 else
 PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS =
 endif
+else
+PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS = plugins
+endif
 
 SUBDIRS = $(PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS)
 DIST_SUBDIRS = plugins