diff --git a/hack/PACKAGERS.md b/hack/PACKAGERS.md
index 5dcb120689..0e513cd4fa 100644
--- a/hack/PACKAGERS.md
+++ b/hack/PACKAGERS.md
@@ -157,6 +157,23 @@ AppArmor, you will need to set `DOCKER_BUILDTAGS` as follows:
 export DOCKER_BUILDTAGS='apparmor'
 ```
 
+There are build tags for disabling graphdrivers as well. By default, support
+for all graphdrivers are built in.
+
+To disable vfs
+```bash
+export DOCKER_BUILDTAGS='exclude_graphdriver_vfs'
+```
+
+To disable devicemapper
+```bash
+export DOCKER_BUILDTAGS='exclude_graphdriver_devicemapper'
+```
+To disable aufs
+```bash
+export DOCKER_BUILDTAGS='exclude_graphdriver_aufs'
+```
+
 ### Static Daemon
 
 If it is feasible within the constraints of your distribution, you should
diff --git a/runtime/runtime.go b/runtime/runtime.go
index 677d52acc5..be15cb562d 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime.go
+++ b/runtime/runtime.go
@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/execdriver/execdrivers"
 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/execdriver/lxc"
 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver"
-	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/aufs"
 	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/btrfs"
-	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/devmapper"
-	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/vfs"
 	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/networkdriver/lxc"
 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/networkdriver/portallocator"
 	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/utils"
@@ -652,11 +649,9 @@ func NewRuntimeFromDirectory(config *daemonconfig.Config, eng *engine.Engine) (*
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if ad, ok := driver.(*aufs.Driver); ok {
-		utils.Debugf("Migrating existing containers")
-		if err := ad.Migrate(config.Root, graph.SetupInitLayer); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+	// Migrate the container if it is aufs and aufs is enabled
+	if err = migrateIfAufs(driver, config.Root); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	utils.Debugf("Creating images graph")
diff --git a/runtime/runtime_aufs.go b/runtime/runtime_aufs.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5a32615df5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/runtime_aufs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// +build !exclude_graphdriver_aufs
+
+package runtime
+
+import (
+	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/graph"
+	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver"
+	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/aufs"
+	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/utils"
+)
+
+// Given the graphdriver ad, if it is aufs, then migrate it.
+// If aufs driver is not built, this func is a noop.
+func migrateIfAufs(driver graphdriver.Driver, root string) error {
+	if ad, ok := driver.(*aufs.Driver); ok {
+		utils.Debugf("Migrating existing containers")
+		if err := ad.Migrate(root, graph.SetupInitLayer); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/runtime/runtime_devicemapper.go b/runtime/runtime_devicemapper.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5b418b377a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/runtime_devicemapper.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// +build !exclude_graphdriver_devicemapper
+
+package runtime
+
+import (
+	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/devmapper"
+)
diff --git a/runtime/runtime_no_aufs.go b/runtime/runtime_no_aufs.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..05a01fe151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/runtime_no_aufs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// +build exclude_graphdriver_aufs
+
+package runtime
+
+import (
+	"github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver"
+)
+
+func migrateIfAufs(driver graphdriver.Driver, root string) error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/runtime/runtime_vfs.go b/runtime/runtime_vfs.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e1db736083
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/runtime_vfs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// +build !exclude_graphdriver_vfs
+
+package runtime
+
+import (
+	_ "github.com/dotcloud/docker/runtime/graphdriver/vfs"
+)