diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
index 8a4353ef93..1931b77b49 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ build-tools-and-docs-debian:
     optional: true
   variables:
     IMAGE: debian-amd64
-    MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check-unit check-softfloat ctags TAGS cscope
+    MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check-unit ctags TAGS cscope
     CONFIGURE_ARGS: --disable-system --disable-user --enable-docs --enable-tools
     QEMU_JOB_PUBLISH: 1
   artifacts:
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index e8cc850727..465c5000ee 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ fi
 fdt="auto"
 
 # 2. Automatically enable/disable other options
-tcg="enabled"
+tcg="auto"
 cfi="false"
 
 # parse CC options second
@@ -1409,11 +1409,6 @@ EOF
   fi
 fi
 
-if test "$tcg" = "enabled"; then
-    git_submodules="$git_submodules tests/fp/berkeley-testfloat-3"
-    git_submodules="$git_submodules tests/fp/berkeley-softfloat-3"
-fi
-
 if test -z "${target_list+xxx}" ; then
     default_targets=yes
     for target in $default_target_list; do
@@ -1444,6 +1439,19 @@ case " $target_list " in
   ;;
 esac
 
+if test "$tcg" = "auto"; then
+  if test -z "$target_list"; then
+    tcg="disabled"
+  else
+    tcg="enabled"
+  fi
+fi
+
+if test "$tcg" = "enabled"; then
+    git_submodules="$git_submodules tests/fp/berkeley-testfloat-3"
+    git_submodules="$git_submodules tests/fp/berkeley-softfloat-3"
+fi
+
 feature_not_found() {
   feature=$1
   remedy=$2