diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 0009535..50e3d95 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
         ================================
 
         clang++ compiler precedence is only taken for Mac OS X >= 10.7
+        Omit Python checks if Python bindings are disabled
 
 2012-09-15  Juergen Knoedlseder  <jurgen.knodlseder@irap.omp.eu>
 
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 6b9b5da..8306b82 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ The clang++ compiler takes now only precedence over the g++ compiler
 if the system on which compilation is performed is Mac OS X 10.7 or
 later.
 
+If Python bindings are disabled we omit now all the Python related
+checks during configuration. This includes detection of the Python
+executable, detection of the swig executable, and the checks for the
+presence of the Python wrapper files.
+
 
 3. Application module
 ---------------------