diff --git a/Examples/r/check.list b/Examples/r/check.list
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69d56a4f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/r/check.list
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# see top-level Makefile.in
+class
+simple
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index f0de5b902..49b76756e 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ allegrocl_examples :=
 clisp_examples     :=
 uffi_examples      :=
 cffi_examples      :=
-r_examples         :=
+r_examples         :=$(shell sed '/^\#/d' $(srcdir)/Examples/r/check.list)
 
 # all examples
 check-%-examples :