diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules
index fb951965af..83e5e9689e 100755
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules
+++ b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu12.04/debian/rules
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ MULTIPATH ?= 256
 WANT_FRR_USER ?= frr
 WANT_FRR_VTY_GROUP ?= frrvty
 
+# Don't build PDF docs by default
+GENERATE_PDF ?= 0
+
 #
 ####################################
 
diff --git a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
index bb5715b78d..64a3d7b63e 100755
--- a/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
+++ b/debianpkg/backports/ubuntu14.04/debian/rules
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ MULTIPATH ?= 256
 WANT_FRR_USER ?= frr
 WANT_FRR_VTY_GROUP ?= frrvty
 
+# Don't build PDF docs by default
+GENERATE_PDF ?= 0
+
 #
 ####################################
 
diff --git a/debianpkg/rules b/debianpkg/rules
index 14294f54fe..46f8f48028 100755
--- a/debianpkg/rules
+++ b/debianpkg/rules
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ MULTIPATH ?= 256
 WANT_FRR_USER ?= frr
 WANT_FRR_VTY_GROUP ?= frrvty
 
+# Don't build PDF docs by default
+GENERATE_PDF ?= 0
+
 #
 ####################################