diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 2ecbaf6785..eb6b089848 100755
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ AddLocalOption('--with-ubsan', dest='with_ubsan', action='store_true',
                help='Build with Undefined Behavior Sanitizer if available')
 AddLocalOption('--with-asan', dest='with_asan', action='store_true',
                help='Build with Address Sanitizer if available')
+AddLocalOption('--with-systemc-tests', dest='with_systemc_tests',
+               action='store_true', help='Build systemc tests')
 
 from gem5_scons import Transform, error, warning
 
diff --git a/src/systemc/tests/SConscript b/src/systemc/tests/SConscript
index aad7e7fa57..e791059046 100644
--- a/src/systemc/tests/SConscript
+++ b/src/systemc/tests/SConscript
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 
 Import('*')
 
-if env['USE_SYSTEMC']:
+if env['USE_SYSTEMC'] and GetOption('with_systemc_tests'):
 
     from gem5_scons import Transform
 
diff --git a/src/systemc/tests/verify.py b/src/systemc/tests/verify.py
index 1b1abfc684..4d55659d82 100755
--- a/src/systemc/tests/verify.py
+++ b/src/systemc/tests/verify.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ json_rel_path = os.path.join(tests_rel_path, 'tests.json')
 
 
 def scons(*args):
-    args = ['scons'] + list(args)
+    args = ['scons', '--with-systemc-tests'] + list(args)
     subprocess.check_call(args)