diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index e12d51a0..4a2922f9 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -507,6 +507,9 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS += \
 	examples/nmsg-packet2pcap \
 	examples/print_version
 
+
+AM_TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = export USE_JSON="$(use_json_c)";
+
 TESTS += tests/group-operator-source-tests/test.sh
 TESTS += tests/json-utf8-tests/test.sh
 TESTS += tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test.sh
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 950ea322..67e1dc0a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ AC_SUBST(NMSG_PATCHLEVEL_VERSION)
 AC_SUBST(NMSG_VERSION)
 AC_SUBST(NMSG_VERSION_NUMBER)
 
+use_json_c=$(test "x$with_json_c" != "xno" && echo "true" || echo "false")
+AC_SUBST(use_json_c)
+
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile doc/doxygen/Doxyfile nmsg/libnmsg.pc nmsg/version.h])
diff --git a/src/io.c b/src/io.c
index 2b11cc45..febc648c 100644
--- a/src/io.c
+++ b/src/io.c
@@ -351,7 +351,6 @@ add_kafka_input(nmsgtool_ctx *c, const char *str_address) {
 		_add_kafka_nmsg_input(c, addr);
 		return;
 	}
-#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 	addr = _strip_prefix_if_exists(str_address, "json:");
 	if (addr != NULL) {
 		_add_kafka_json_input(c, addr);
@@ -359,11 +358,6 @@ add_kafka_input(nmsgtool_ctx *c, const char *str_address) {
 	}
 	fprintf(stderr, "%s: Error: nmsg or json protocol must be set for Kafka topic\n",
 		argv_program);
-#else /* HAVE_JSON_C */
-	fprintf(stderr, "%s: Error: nmsg protocol must be set for Kafka topic\n",
-		argv_program);
-#endif /* HAVE_JSON_C */
-	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
 void
@@ -373,7 +367,6 @@ add_kafka_output(nmsgtool_ctx *c, const char *str_address) {
 		_add_kafka_nmsg_output(c, addr);
 		return;
 	}
-#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 	addr = _strip_prefix_if_exists(str_address, "json:");
 	if (addr != NULL) {
 		_add_kafka_json_output(c, addr);
@@ -381,11 +374,6 @@ add_kafka_output(nmsgtool_ctx *c, const char *str_address) {
 	}
 	fprintf(stderr, "%s: Error: nmsg or json protocol must be set for Kafka topic\n",
 		argv_program);
-#else /* HAVE_JSON_C */
-	fprintf(stderr, "%s: Error: nmsg protocol must be set for Kafka topic\n",
-		argv_program);
-#endif /* HAVE_JSON_C */
-	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBZMQ
diff --git a/tests/group-operator-source-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/group-operator-source-tests/test.sh.in
index 2a3fcc95..d8909414 100755
--- a/tests/group-operator-source-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/group-operator-source-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ check() {
 	fi
 }
 
+USE_JSON="@use_json_c@"
+
 NMSG_MSGMOD_DIR="@abs_top_builddir@/nmsg/base/.libs"
 export NMSG_MSGMOD_DIR
 NMSGTOOL="@abs_top_builddir@/src/nmsgtool"
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ rm -f ${OUTPUT}/test*out
 
 echo Testing no source results in no source ...
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 echo "$JSON_PAYLOAD" | $NMSGTOOL -j - > ${OUTPUT}/test-no-source.pres.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
 head -1 ${OUTPUT}/test-no-source.pres.out | grep '\[1:4 base http\] \[00000000\] \[\] \[\] $' >/dev/null
@@ -321,7 +324,95 @@ echo "$JSON_PAYLOAD" | $NMSGTOOL -j - --setgroup 4321 -J ${OUTPUT}/test-setgroup
 check read json base:http and create base:http json output
 egrep ',"group":4321,' ${OUTPUT}/test-setgroup-not-aliases.json.out >/dev/null
 check numeric group in json
-
+else
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no source results in 00000000 in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no source in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check empty source results in 00000000 in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no source in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check source presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check source in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check previous source not in presentation
+: ; check new source in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check previous source not in json
+: ; check new source in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no numerical operator and group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no operator field in json
+: ; check no group field in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check numerical operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check numerical operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check numerical group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check numerical group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check no group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check no group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check named group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check named group in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check numeric operator in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check numeric operator in json
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
+: ; check numeric group in presentation
+: ; check read json base:http and create base:http json output
+: ; check numeric group in json
+fi
 # TODO: test no source
 # test with broken aliases file
 
diff --git a/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test.sh.in
index 24f76f77..224f3b45 100755
--- a/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ NMSGTOOL="@abs_top_builddir@/src/nmsgtool"
 SOURCE=@abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test1-dns
 OUTPUT=@abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test1-dns
 
+USE_JSON="@use_json_c@"
+
 # cleanup from previous run
 rm -f ${OUTPUT}*out
 
@@ -37,22 +39,36 @@ check read nmsg base:dns and create nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.nmsg.out
 check nmsg-to-nmsg
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json > ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check read json base:dns and create presentation output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.pres ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # output should be same as input
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json -J ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check read json base:dns and create json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.json ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json -w ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check read json base:dns and create nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check json-to-nmsg
-
+else
+:
+check json-to-nmsg
+fi
 # another test input
 # TODO: use a function since is repeated
 
@@ -66,23 +82,42 @@ check read nmsg base:dns and create json output
 cmp -s @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.nmsg.json.out
 check nmsg-to-json
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json > @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json.pres.out
 check read json base:dns and create presentation output
 cmp -s @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.pres @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json -J @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json.json.out
 check read json base:dns and create json output
 cmp -s @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test2-dns.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
-
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 # NOTE: --readpres is not fully implemented for base:dns so aborts
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # JSON input mistakes should result in no output
 $NMSGTOOL -dd -j @abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test3-dns.json --writepres @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test3-dns.json.pres.out 2>@abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test3-dns.json.pres.stderr.out
 check read broken json base:dns and create empty output
+else
+:
+check broken json base:dns and create empty output
+fi
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 grep "JSON parse error:" @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test3-dns.json.pres.stderr.out >/dev/null
 check reports JSON parse error
+else
+:
+check reports JSON parse error 
+fi
 test ! -s @abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dns-tests/test3-dns.json.pres.out
 check broken-json-to-empty-pres
 
diff --git a/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test.sh.in
index 0ae93a11..614e5429 100755
--- a/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ PAYLOAD="@abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test-dnsobs.nmsg"
 SOURCE=@abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test1-dnsobs
 OUTPUT=@abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dnsobs-tests/test1-dnsobs
 
+USE_JSON="@use_json_c@"
+
 # cleanup from previous run
 rm -f ${OUTPUT}*out
 
@@ -33,26 +35,47 @@ check read nmsg base:dnsobs and create base:dnsobs nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.nmsg.out
 check nmsg-to-nmsg
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -r ${SOURCE}.nmsg -J ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.json.out
 check read nmsg base:dnsobs and create base:dnsobs json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.json ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.json.out
 check nmsg-to-json
+else
+:
+check nmsg-to-json
+fi
+
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}.json > ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check read json base:dnsobs and create dnsobs presentation output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.pres ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}.json -w ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check read json base:dnsobs and create base:dnsobs nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check json-to-nmsg
+else
+:
+check json-to-nmsg
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # output should be same as input
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}.json -J ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check read json base:dnsobs and create base:dnsobs json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.json ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 
 # NOTE: --readpres is not fully implemented for base:dnsobs
 
diff --git a/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test.sh.in
index 4cbeb3c1..dc9557c0 100755
--- a/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ NMSGTOOL="@abs_top_builddir@/src/nmsgtool"
 SOURCE=@abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test1-dnsqr
 OUTPUT=@abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-dnsqr-tests/test1-dnsqr
 
+USE_JSON="@use_json_c@"
+
 # cleanup from previous run
 rm -f ${OUTPUT}*out
 
@@ -32,28 +34,48 @@ check read nmsg base:dnsqr and create nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.nmsg.out
 check nmsg-to-nmsg
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -r ${SOURCE}.nmsg -J ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.json.out
 check read nmsg base:dnsqr and create json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.json ${OUTPUT}.nmsg.json.out
 check nmsg-to-json
+else
+:
+check nmsg-to-json
+fi
 
 ############
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json > ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check read json base:dnsqr and create presentation output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.pres ${OUTPUT}.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
-# output should be same as input
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
+#output should be same as input
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json -J ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check read json base:dnsqr and create json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.json ${OUTPUT}.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}.json -w ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check read json base:dnsqr and create nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}.nmsg ${OUTPUT}.json.nmsg.out
 check json-to-nmsg
+else
+:
+check json-to-nmsg
+fi
 
 ##############
 
diff --git a/tests/nmsg-http-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/nmsg-http-tests/test.sh.in
index 812dba7e..d7d2441c 100755
--- a/tests/nmsg-http-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/nmsg-http-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ NMSGTOOL="@abs_top_builddir@/src/nmsgtool"
 SOURCE=@abs_top_srcdir@/tests/nmsg-http-tests/
 OUTPUT=@abs_top_builddir@/tests/nmsg-http-tests/
 
+USE_JSON="@use_json_c@"
+
 # cleanup from previous run
 rm -f ${OUTPUT}/test*-http*out
 
@@ -76,23 +78,37 @@ echo Testing the JSON input with an empty request ...
 # single byte null string termination, so the message size is one byte
 # larger than the broken NMSG message that has no string termination.
 # This still results in empty request "".
-
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}/test1-http-empty-request.json > ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.pres.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test2-http-empty-request.pres ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}/test1-http-empty-request.json -w ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.nmsg.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test2-http-empty-request.nmsg ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.nmsg.out
 check json-to-nmsg
+else
+:
+check json-to-nmsg
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # output should be same as input
 $NMSGTOOL --readjson ${SOURCE}/test1-http-empty-request.json -J ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.json.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http json output
 # using same JSON to compare against
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test1-http-empty-request.json ${OUTPUT}/test3-http.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 
 ########################
 
@@ -120,21 +136,36 @@ check nmsg-to-json
 
 echo Testing JSON input that has no request ...
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.json > ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.pres.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http presentation output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.pres ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.pres.out
 check json-to-presentation
+else
+:
+check json-to-presentation
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.json -w ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.nmsg.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http nmsg output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.nmsg ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.nmsg.out
 check json-to-nmsg
+else
+:
+check json-to-nmsg
+fi
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # output should be same as input, pass through
 $NMSGTOOL -j ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.json -J ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.json.out
 check read json base:http and create base:http json output
 cmp -s ${SOURCE}/test4-http-no-request.json ${OUTPUT}/test4-http.json.json.out
 check json-to-json
+else
+:
+check json-to-json
+fi
 
 # NOTE: --readpres is not implemented for base:http
 
diff --git a/tests/string-tests/test.sh.in b/tests/string-tests/test.sh.in
index f07d506b..95f68359 100755
--- a/tests/string-tests/test.sh.in
+++ b/tests/string-tests/test.sh.in
@@ -70,13 +70,19 @@ for c in $*; do
 
 	# read nmsg, check presentation output
 	check "$innmsg presentation" diff $outpres -r $innmsg
-
+	
+	if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 	# read nmsg, check json output
 	check "$innmsg json" diff $outjson -r $innmsg -J -
 
 	# load json output, check against expected (but
 	# not necessarily original) nmsg.
 	check "$outjson load" cmp $outnmsg -j $outjson -w -
+	else
+	:
+	tll=true check "$innmsg json" true /dev/null
+	tll=true check "$outjson load" true /dev/null
+	fi
 done
 
 exit $status
diff --git a/tests/test-io.c b/tests/test-io.c
index 41082725..036a692f 100644
--- a/tests/test-io.c
+++ b/tests/test-io.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 
 
 
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 static void
 dummy_callback(nmsg_message_t msg, void *user)
 {
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ dummy_callback(nmsg_message_t msg, void *user)
 	(void)(user);
 	return;
 }
+#endif
 
 /* Create and populate dummy base:packet message from scratch. */
 static int
@@ -333,6 +335,7 @@ test_ozlib(void)
 }
 
 /* Test the functionality of nmsg input loops. */
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 static int
 test_dummy(void)
 {
@@ -649,7 +652,7 @@ test_multiplex(void)
 
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
-
+#endif
 
 static int ioloop_stopped = 0;
 
@@ -727,6 +730,8 @@ typedef struct _iopair {
 	int error;
 } iopair;
 
+
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 static size_t n_looped = 0, max_looped = 5;
 
 static void
@@ -845,6 +850,7 @@ test_count(void)
 
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
+#endif
 
 /*
  * Test a wide variety of nmsg input filter functions.
@@ -921,6 +927,7 @@ test_io_filters2(void)
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 /* Test nmsg rates and their effects on nmsg outputs with set rates. */
 static int
 test_rate(void)
@@ -1007,7 +1014,7 @@ test_rate(void)
 
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
-
+#endif
 
 static void *user_data = (void *)0xdeadbeef;
 static int touched_exit, touched_atstart, touched_close, num_received, touched_filter;
@@ -1487,17 +1494,19 @@ main(void)
 {
 	check_abort(nmsg_init() == nmsg_res_success);
 
+	#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_dummy() == 0, "test-io/ test_dummy");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_multiplex() == 0, "test-io/ test_multiplex");
+	check_explicit2_display_only(test_rate() == 0, "test-io/ test_rate");
+	check_explicit2_display_only(test_count() == 0, "test-io/ test_count");
+	#endif
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_interval() == 0, "test-io/ test_interval");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_sock() == 0, "test-io/ test_sock");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_ozlib() == 0, "test-io/ test_ozlib");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_io_filters() == 0, "test-io/ test_io_filters");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_io_filters2() == 0, "test-io/ test_io_filters2");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_io_sockspec() == 0, "test-io/ test_io_sockspec");
-	check_explicit2_display_only(test_rate() == 0, "test-io/ test_rate");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_input_rate() == 0, "test-io/ test_input_rate");
-	check_explicit2_display_only(test_count() == 0, "test-io/ test_count");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_blocking() == 0, "test-io/ test_blocking");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_misc() == 0, "test-io/ test_misc");
 
diff --git a/tests/test-kicker.sh b/tests/test-kicker.sh
index 6437aa0d..0526604c 100755
--- a/tests/test-kicker.sh
+++ b/tests/test-kicker.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ outfile=$outdir/test-kicker.out
 # by using echo as the kicker the filenames are output one at a time to stdout
 kicker="echo"
 retval=0
-
+echo "Use Json: {$USE_JSON}"
 check() {
 	if [ $? = "0" ]; then
 		echo "PASS: $*"
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ mkdir $outdir
 cd $outdir
 NMSG_MSGMOD_DIR=${NMSG_MSGMOD_DIR:-$abs_top_builddir/nmsg/base/.libs}
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # Read input data with our kicked nmsgtools.
 $nmsgtool_test -ddddd -j $infile -c 1 -k "$kicker" > $outfile
 
@@ -48,6 +49,11 @@ done < $outfile
 file_count=$(ls -1 $outdir | wc -l)
 [ "$file_count" -eq "1" ] # 1 to account for the kicker output file.
 check "file names in kicker output file match actual output filenames"
+else
+:
+check "comparison of kicked output files"
+check "file names in kicker output file match actual output filenames"
+fi
 
 # Clean-up!
 rm -rf $outdir
diff --git a/tests/test-misc.c b/tests/test-misc.c
index 137cd928..b2051a67 100644
--- a/tests/test-misc.c
+++ b/tests/test-misc.c
@@ -670,6 +670,7 @@ test_msgmod(void)
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 /* Test the filter module subsystem against a message, using our sample module */
 static int
 test_fltmod(void)
@@ -709,6 +710,7 @@ test_fltmod(void)
 
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
+#endif
 
 static void *cb_token = (void *)0xdeadbeef;
 static int read_cb_success = 0, write_cb_success = 0;
@@ -1285,7 +1287,9 @@ main(void)
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_inet_ntop() == 0, "test-misc/ test_inet_ntop");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_printf() == 0, "test-misc/ test_printf");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_msgmod() == 0, "test-misc/ test_msgmod");
+	#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_fltmod() == 0, "test-misc/ test_fltmod");
+	#endif
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_ipdg() == 0, "test-misc/ test_ipdg");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_alias() == 0, "test-misc/ test_alias");
 	check_explicit2_display_only(test_strbuf() == 0, "test-misc/ test_strbuf");
diff --git a/tests/test-parse.c b/tests/test-parse.c
index 8886f49a..47eeb643 100644
--- a/tests/test-parse.c
+++ b/tests/test-parse.c
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
 #include "nmsg/base/http.pb-c.h"
 #include "wdns.h"
 
+
+#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
+
 #define NAME	"test-parse"
 
 #define QUOTE(...)	#__VA_ARGS__
@@ -373,14 +376,18 @@ test_serialize(void)
 	l_return_test_status();
 }
 
+#endif
+
 int
 main(void)
 {
-	check_abort(nmsg_init() == nmsg_res_success);
+	#ifdef HAVE_JSON_C
+		check_abort(nmsg_init() == nmsg_res_success);
 
-	check_explicit2_display_only(test_json() == 0, "test-parse / test_json");
-	check_explicit2_display_only(test_serialize() == 0, "test-parse / test_serialize");
-	check_explicit2_display_only(test_json_nmsg_json() == 0, "test-parse / test_json_nmsg_json");
+		check_explicit2_display_only(test_json() == 0, "test-parse / test_json");
+		check_explicit2_display_only(test_serialize() == 0, "test-parse / test_serialize");
+		check_explicit2_display_only(test_json_nmsg_json() == 0, "test-parse / test_json_nmsg_json");
 
-	g_check_test_status(false);
+		g_check_test_status(false);
+	#endif
 }
diff --git a/tests/test-sample.sh b/tests/test-sample.sh
index 71f81f36..b6fe9f85 100755
--- a/tests/test-sample.sh
+++ b/tests/test-sample.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ check() {
 
 echo "Testing sample filter: "
 
+if [ "$USE_JSON" = "true" ]; then
 # Create a listener and a writer on the same socket.
 $nmsgtool_test -ddddd -F ${MODULE_PATHNAME},"count=$sample_entry_count" -j $infile -J $outfile
 
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ $nmsgtool_test -ddddd -F ${MODULE_PATHNAME},"count=$sample_entry_count" -j $infi
 line_count=$(wc -l $outfile | awk '{print $1}')
 [ "$line_count" -eq "$desired_entry_count" ]
 check "comparison of sample-filtered json output"
+else
+:
+check "comparison of sample-filtered json output"
+fi
+
 
 # Cleanup!
 rm $outfile