diff --git a/config_help.txt b/config_help.txt
index 5b32eb183f..44dccfb8da 100644
--- a/config_help.txt
+++ b/config_help.txt
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ Component selection:
                          [libs and examples, also tools if not cross-building,
                          also tests if -developer-build]
   -nomake <part> ....... Exclude <part> from the list of parts to be built.
-  -compile-examples .... When unset, install only the sources of examples [yes]
+  -compile-examples .... When unset, install only the sources of examples
+                         [no on WebAssembly, otherwise yes]
   -gui ................. Build the Qt GUI module and dependencies [yes]
   -widgets ............. Build the Qt Widgets module and dependencies [yes]
   -no-dbus ............. Do not build the Qt D-Bus module
diff --git a/configure.json b/configure.json
index 522bd34e9b..7c79b5c582 100644
--- a/configure.json
+++ b/configure.json
@@ -1203,6 +1203,7 @@
         },
         "compile_examples": {
             "label": "Compile examples",
+            "autoDetect": "!config.wasm",
             "output": [ "privateConfig" ]
         },
         "incredibuild_xge": {