diff --git a/config b/config
index cf64ec563..2cb4613a4 100755
--- a/config
+++ b/config
@@ -825,9 +825,11 @@ esac
 #  options="$options -DATALLA"
 #fi
 
-($CC -Wa,--help -c -o /dev/null -x assembler /dev/null 2>&1 | \
- grep \\--noexecstack) 2>&1 > /dev/null && \
+if expr "$options" : '.*no\-asm' > /dev/null; then :; else
+  sh -c "$CROSS_COMPILE${CC:-gcc} -Wa,--help -c -o /tmp/null.$$.o -x assembler /dev/null && rm /tmp/null.$$.o" 2>&1 | \
+  grep \\--noexecstack >/dev/null && \
   options="$options -Wa,--noexecstack"
+fi
 
 # gcc < 2.8 does not support -march=ultrasparc
 if [ "$OUT" = solaris-sparcv9-gcc -a $GCCVER -lt 28 ]