diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index 9061abeea..252c7eb0a 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -43,9 +43,11 @@ SUBDIRS                                 = \
     spinel-cli                            \
     $(NULL)
 
+if OPENTHREAD_BUILD_TOOLS
 if OPENTHREAD_TARGET_LINUX
 SUBDIRS                                += spi-hdlc-adapter
 endif
+endif # OPENTHREAD_BUILD_TOOLS
 
 # Always pretty (e.g. for 'make pretty') these subdirectories.