diff --git a/docs/Makefile.am b/docs/Makefile.am
index 2dacd31154..11792cbac2 100644
--- a/docs/Makefile.am
+++ b/docs/Makefile.am
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 if ENABLE_GTK_DOC
-GTK_DOC_DIRS = # plugins
+if ENABLE_PLUGIN_DOCS
+PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS = plugins
 else
-GTK_DOC_DIRS =
+PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS =
+endif
+else
+PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS = plugins
 endif
 
-SUBDIRS = $(GTK_DOC_DIRS)
+SUBDIRS = $(PLUGIN_DOCS_DIRS)
 DIST_SUBDIRS = # plugins
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \