diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5a53cf0a1..20ed960b4 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -405,6 +405,8 @@ if test x$with_default_backend = xapt; then
 	AC_SUBST(APT_CFLAGS)
 	AC_SUBST(APT_LIBS)
 	AC_SUBST(APT_PKG_TYPE)
+else
+	AM_CONDITIONAL(APT_SEARCH_PLAIN, [false])
 fi
 
 if test x$with_default_backend = xbox; then