diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index db2fdcef..96eab0e9 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ compiler:
     - gcc
 before_install:
   - sudo apt-get install libboost-regex1.48-dev
-install: script/configure.sh -D USE_BOOST_REGEX
+install: script/configure.sh -D USE_BOOST_REGEX=true -D USE_LIBPROFILER=false
 script: script/test_all.sh
diff --git a/script/configure.sh b/script/configure.sh
index a06c5f40..214ec82a 100755
--- a/script/configure.sh
+++ b/script/configure.sh
@@ -11,10 +11,14 @@ if [ "$1" == "-h" ]; then
 
 Variables:
 
--D USE_BOOST_REGEX - Use boost regex library for tests, not the built-in regex
-                     library. This is useful when linking against an older
-                     version of the standard library. libboost_regex must be
-                     installed.
+-D USE_BOOST_REGEX=true
+  Use boost regex library for tests, not the built-in regex library. This is
+  useful when linking against an older version of the standard library.
+  libboost_regex must be installed.
+
+-D USE_LIBPROFILER=false
+  Don't link libprofiler into the test binaries. This flag is needed on systems
+  where libprofiler (from the google-perftools package) is not installed.
 
 HELP
 fi
diff --git a/tests.gyp b/tests.gyp
index bb78a38e..613b2c19 100644
--- a/tests.gyp
+++ b/tests.gyp
@@ -65,7 +65,14 @@
       '-std=c++0x',
     ],
 
-    'libraries': ['-weak-lprofiler'],
+    'variables': {
+      'USE_LIBPROFILER%': 'true',
+    },
+    'conditions': [
+      ['USE_LIBPROFILER != "false"', {
+        'libraries': ['-lprofiler'],
+      }]
+    ],
 
     'xcode_settings': {
       'CLANG_CXX_LANGUAGE_STANDARD': 'c++11',