diff --git a/test/cairo-test.c b/test/cairo-test.c
index 8e70f9508..9d245ad12 100644
--- a/test/cairo-test.c
+++ b/test/cairo-test.c
@@ -1031,3 +1031,22 @@ cairo_test_paint_checkered (cairo_t *cr)
 
     return status;
 }
+
+cairo_bool_t
+cairo_test_is_target_enabled (const cairo_test_context_t *ctx, const char *target)
+{
+    size_t i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < ctx->num_targets; i++) {
+	const cairo_boilerplate_target_t *t = ctx->targets_to_test[i];
+	if (strcmp (t->name, target) == 0) {
+	    /* XXX ask the target whether is it possible to run?
+	     * e.g. the xlib backend could check whether it is able to connect
+	     * to the Display.
+	     */
+	    return TRUE;
+	}
+    }
+
+    return FALSE;
+}
diff --git a/test/cairo-test.h b/test/cairo-test.h
index 09f5fd875..4c3cbced1 100644
--- a/test/cairo-test.h
+++ b/test/cairo-test.h
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ cairo_test_paint_checkered (cairo_t *cr);
 
 #define CAIRO_TEST_DOUBLE_EQUALS(a,b)  (fabs((a)-(b)) < 0.00001)
 
+cairo_bool_t
+cairo_test_is_target_enabled (const cairo_test_context_t *ctx,
+	                      const char *target);
+
 CAIRO_END_DECLS
 
 #endif
diff --git a/test/create-for-stream.c b/test/create-for-stream.c
index 9d90cf4ef..211d2c4a3 100644
--- a/test/create-for-stream.c
+++ b/test/create-for-stream.c
@@ -243,36 +243,42 @@ main (void)
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, test_name);
 
 #if CAIRO_HAS_PS_SURFACE
-    test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "ps", "create-for-stream.ps",
-			        cairo_ps_surface_create,
-			        cairo_ps_surface_create_for_stream);
-    cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
-		    test_name, "ps",
-		    test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
-    if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
-	status = test_status;
+    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "ps")) {
+	test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "ps", "create-for-stream.ps",
+				    cairo_ps_surface_create,
+				    cairo_ps_surface_create_for_stream);
+	cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
+			test_name, "ps",
+			test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
+	if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
+	    status = test_status;
+    }
 #endif
 
 #if CAIRO_HAS_PDF_SURFACE
-    test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "pdf", "create-for-stream.pdf",
-			        cairo_pdf_surface_create,
-			        cairo_pdf_surface_create_for_stream);
-    cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
-		    test_name, "pdf",
-		    test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
-    if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
-	status = test_status;
+    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "pdf")) {
+	test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "pdf", "create-for-stream.pdf",
+				    cairo_pdf_surface_create,
+				    cairo_pdf_surface_create_for_stream);
+	cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
+			test_name, "pdf",
+			test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
+	if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
+	    status = test_status;
+    }
 #endif
 
 #if CAIRO_HAS_SVG_SURFACE
-    test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "svg", "create-for-stream.svg",
-			        cairo_svg_surface_create,
-			        cairo_svg_surface_create_for_stream);
-    cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
-		    test_name, "svg",
-		    test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
-    if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
-	status = test_status;
+    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "svg")) {
+	test_status = test_surface (&ctx, "svg", "create-for-stream.svg",
+				    cairo_svg_surface_create,
+				    cairo_svg_surface_create_for_stream);
+	cairo_test_log (&ctx, "TEST: %s TARGET: %s RESULT: %s\n",
+			test_name, "svg",
+			test_status ? "FAIL" : "PASS");
+	if (status == CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS)
+	    status = test_status;
+    }
 #endif
 
     cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
diff --git a/test/fallback-resolution.c b/test/fallback-resolution.c
index aa1be92a7..44b467b96 100644
--- a/test/fallback-resolution.c
+++ b/test/fallback-resolution.c
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ int
 main (void)
 {
     cairo_test_context_t ctx;
-    cairo_surface_t *surface = NULL;
     cairo_t *cr;
     cairo_status_t status;
     cairo_test_status_t ret = CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS;
@@ -102,27 +101,37 @@ main (void)
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "fallback-resolution");
 
     for (backend=0; backend < NUM_BACKENDS; backend++) {
+	cairo_surface_t *surface = NULL;
 
 	/* Create backend-specific surface and force image fallbacks. */
 	switch (backend) {
 	case PDF:
-	    surface = cairo_pdf_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
-						SIZE, SIZE);
-	    cairo_boilerplate_pdf_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
+	    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "pdf")) {
+		surface = cairo_pdf_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
+						    SIZE, SIZE);
+		cairo_boilerplate_pdf_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
+	    }
 	    break;
 	case PS:
-	    surface = cairo_ps_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
-					       SIZE, SIZE);
-	    cairo_boilerplate_ps_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
+	    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "ps")) {
+		surface = cairo_ps_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
+						   SIZE, SIZE);
+		cairo_boilerplate_ps_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
+	    }
 	    break;
 	case SVG:
-	    surface = cairo_svg_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
-						SIZE, SIZE);
-	    cairo_boilerplate_svg_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
-	    cairo_svg_surface_restrict_to_version (surface, CAIRO_SVG_VERSION_1_2);
+	    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "svg")) {
+		surface = cairo_svg_surface_create (backend_filename[backend],
+						    SIZE, SIZE);
+		cairo_boilerplate_svg_surface_force_fallbacks (surface);
+		cairo_svg_surface_restrict_to_version (surface, CAIRO_SVG_VERSION_1_2);
+	    }
 	    break;
 	}
 
+	if (surface == NULL)
+	    continue;
+
 	cr = cairo_create (surface);
 	cairo_set_tolerance (cr, 3.0);
 
diff --git a/test/get-xrender-format.c b/test/get-xrender-format.c
index fbb7d0c92..e14728247 100644
--- a/test/get-xrender-format.c
+++ b/test/get-xrender-format.c
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ main (void)
     int screen;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "get-xrender-format");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "xlib")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     dpy = XOpenDisplay (NULL);
     if (! dpy) {
diff --git a/test/multi-page.c b/test/multi-page.c
index 4e0749afe..bf33dad8b 100644
--- a/test/multi-page.c
+++ b/test/multi-page.c
@@ -139,41 +139,45 @@ main (void)
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "multi-page");
 
 #if CAIRO_HAS_PS_SURFACE
-    filename = "multi-page.ps";
+    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "ps")) {
+	filename = "multi-page.ps";
 
-    surface = cairo_ps_surface_create (filename,
-				       WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
-    status = cairo_surface_status (surface);
-    if (status) {
-	cairo_test_log (&ctx, "Failed to create ps surface for file %s: %s\n",
-			filename, cairo_status_to_string (status));
-	result = CAIRO_TEST_FAILURE;
+	surface = cairo_ps_surface_create (filename,
+					   WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
+	status = cairo_surface_status (surface);
+	if (status) {
+	    cairo_test_log (&ctx, "Failed to create ps surface for file %s: %s\n",
+			    filename, cairo_status_to_string (status));
+	    result = CAIRO_TEST_FAILURE;
+	}
+
+	draw_some_pages (surface);
+
+	cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
+
+	printf ("multi-page: Please check %s to ensure it looks happy.\n", filename);
     }
-
-    draw_some_pages (surface);
-
-    cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
-
-    printf ("multi-page: Please check %s to ensure it looks happy.\n", filename);
 #endif
 
 #if CAIRO_HAS_PDF_SURFACE
-    filename = "multi-page.pdf";
+    if (cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "pdf")) {
+	filename = "multi-page.pdf";
 
-    surface = cairo_pdf_surface_create (filename,
-					WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
-    status = cairo_surface_status (surface);
-    if (status) {
-	cairo_test_log (&ctx, "Failed to create pdf surface for file %s: %s\n",
-			filename, cairo_status_to_string (status));
-	result = CAIRO_TEST_FAILURE;
+	surface = cairo_pdf_surface_create (filename,
+					    WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
+	status = cairo_surface_status (surface);
+	if (status) {
+	    cairo_test_log (&ctx, "Failed to create pdf surface for file %s: %s\n",
+			    filename, cairo_status_to_string (status));
+	    result = CAIRO_TEST_FAILURE;
+	}
+
+	draw_some_pages (surface);
+
+	cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
+
+	printf ("multi-page: Please check %s to ensure it looks happy.\n", filename);
     }
-
-    draw_some_pages (surface);
-
-    cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
-
-    printf ("multi-page: Please check %s to ensure it looks happy.\n", filename);
 #endif
 
     cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
diff --git a/test/pdf-features.c b/test/pdf-features.c
index 74804cd84..e8616850d 100644
--- a/test/pdf-features.c
+++ b/test/pdf-features.c
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ main (void)
     size_t i;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "pdf-features");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "pdf")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     filename = "pdf-features.pdf";
 
diff --git a/test/ps-features.c b/test/ps-features.c
index b3ac50d10..43c358736 100644
--- a/test/ps-features.c
+++ b/test/ps-features.c
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ main (void)
     char dsc[255];
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "ps-features");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "ps")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     filename = "ps-features.ps";
 
diff --git a/test/svg-clip.c b/test/svg-clip.c
index 0dfab4d87..0286677f3 100644
--- a/test/svg-clip.c
+++ b/test/svg-clip.c
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ main (void)
     cairo_surface_t *surface;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "svg-clip");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "svg")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     surface = cairo_svg_surface_create (filename,
 					WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
diff --git a/test/svg-surface.c b/test/svg-surface.c
index f6b843ac9..9a626337d 100644
--- a/test/svg-surface.c
+++ b/test/svg-surface.c
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ main (void)
     cairo_surface_t *surface;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "svg-surface");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "svg")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     surface = cairo_svg_surface_create (filename,
 					WIDTH_IN_POINTS, HEIGHT_IN_POINTS);
diff --git a/test/xlib-expose-event.c b/test/xlib-expose-event.c
index c872047bc..0dbddac1f 100644
--- a/test/xlib-expose-event.c
+++ b/test/xlib-expose-event.c
@@ -213,6 +213,10 @@ main (void)
     cairo_test_status_t result = CAIRO_TEST_SUCCESS;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "xlib-expose-event");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "xlib")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     dpy = XOpenDisplay (NULL);
     if (dpy == NULL) {
diff --git a/test/xlib-surface.c b/test/xlib-surface.c
index 20c2bc95a..71bbeab1d 100644
--- a/test/xlib-surface.c
+++ b/test/xlib-surface.c
@@ -303,6 +303,10 @@ main (void)
     int stride;
 
     cairo_test_init (&ctx, "xlib-surface");
+    if (! cairo_test_is_target_enabled (&ctx, "xlib")) {
+	cairo_test_fini (&ctx);
+	return CAIRO_TEST_UNTESTED;
+    }
 
     dpy = XOpenDisplay (NULL);
     if (!dpy) {