--- nano-cvs/configure.ac
+++ nano-cvs/configure.ac
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ dnl Internationalization macros.
 
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION(0.11.5)
 AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external], [need-ngettext])
+AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_NLS, test "x$USE_NLS" = "xyes")
 
 dnl Checks for header files.
 
--- nano-cvs/doc/man/Makefile.am
+++ nano-cvs/doc/man/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
+if USE_NLS
 SUBDIRS = fr
+else
+SUBDIRS =
+endif
 
 man_MANS = nano.1 nanorc.5