diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 81c84a8af..e3718166f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([ccache],
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([lcov],
   [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-lcov],
   [enable lcov testing (default is no)])],
-  [use_lcov=yes],
+  [use_lcov=$enableval],
   [use_lcov=no])
   
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([lcov-branch-coverage],