diff --git a/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 8193124..053b03c 100644
--- a/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,26 +27,30 @@
     target_link_libraries(cpp_dummy_build ${mbedcrypto_target})
 endif()
 
-find_package(Perl REQUIRED)
+if(DEV_MODE)
+    find_package(Perl REQUIRED)
 
-add_custom_command(
-    OUTPUT
-        ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c
-    COMMAND
-        ${PERL}
+    add_custom_command(
+        OUTPUT
+            ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c
+        COMMAND
+            ${PERL}
+                ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/generate_query_config.pl
+                ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../include/mbedtls/mbedtls_config.h
+                ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/data_files/query_config.fmt
+                ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c
+        DEPENDS
             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/generate_query_config.pl
             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../include/mbedtls/mbedtls_config.h
             ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/data_files/query_config.fmt
-            ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c
-    DEPENDS
-        ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/generate_query_config.pl
-        ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../include/mbedtls/mbedtls_config.h
-        ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../../scripts/data_files/query_config.fmt
-)
-# this file will also be used in anoter directory, so create a target, see
-# https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/community/-/wikis/FAQ#how-can-i-add-a-dependency-to-a-source-file-which-is-generated-in-a-subdirectory
-add_custom_target(generate_query_config_c
-    DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c)
+    )
+    # this file will also be used in anoter directory, so create a target, see
+    # https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/community/-/wikis/FAQ#how-can-i-add-a-dependency-to-a-source-file-which-is-generated-in-a-subdirectory
+    add_custom_target(generate_query_config_c
+        DEPENDS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/query_config.c)
+else()
+    link_to_source(query_config.c)
+endif()
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables_libs executables_mbedcrypto)
     set(extra_sources "")