diff --git a/tests/test_compress.sh b/tests/test_compress.sh
index a6d07c6b..128ef854 100755
--- a/tests/test_compress.sh
+++ b/tests/test_compress.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ else
 	exit 77
 fi
 
+# If compression or decompression support is missing, this test is skipped.
+# This isn't perfect as if only some compressors or decompressors are disabled
+# then this script can still fail because for now this doesn't check the
+# availability of each filter.
+if grep 'define HAVE_ENCODERS' ../config.h > /dev/null \
+		&& grep 'define HAVE_DECODERS' ../config.h > /dev/null ; then
+	:
+else
+	echo "Compression or decompression support is disabled, skipping this test."
+	exit 77
+fi
+
 # Find out if our shell supports functions.
 eval 'unset foo ; foo() { return 42; } ; foo'
 if test $? != 42 ; then
diff --git a/tests/test_files.sh b/tests/test_files.sh
index d770e2b6..17c542f5 100755
--- a/tests/test_files.sh
+++ b/tests/test_files.sh
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@ if test -z "$XZ$XZDEC"; then
 	exit 77
 fi
 
+# If decompression support is missing, this test is skipped.
+# This isn't perfect as if only some decompressors are disabled
+# then some good files might not decompress and the test fails
+# for a (kind of) wrong reason.
+if grep 'define HAVE_DECODERS' ../config.h > /dev/null ; then
+	:
+else
+	echo "Decompression support is disabled, skipping this test."
+	exit 77
+fi
+
 for I in "$srcdir"/files/good-*.xz
 do
 	if test -z "$XZ" || "$XZ" -dc "$I" > /dev/null; then
diff --git a/tests/test_scripts.sh b/tests/test_scripts.sh
index baa9e249..ee823612 100755
--- a/tests/test_scripts.sh
+++ b/tests/test_scripts.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@ for i in XZ XZDIFF XZGREP; do
 	exit 77
 done
 
+# If decompression support is missing, this test is skipped.
+# Installing the scripts in this case is a bit silly but they
+# could still be used with other decompression tools so configure
+# doesn't automatically disable scripts if decoders are disabled.
+if grep 'define HAVE_DECODERS' ../config.h > /dev/null ; then
+	:
+else
+	echo "Decompression support is disabled, skipping this test."
+	exit 77
+fi
+
 PATH=`pwd`/../src/xz:$PATH
 export PATH