diff --git a/mistral_tempest_tests/config.py b/mistral_tempest_tests/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a42a10f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistral_tempest_tests/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Copyright 2016 Catalyst IT Limited
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+from oslo_config import cfg
+
+service_available_group = cfg.OptGroup(name="service_available",
+                                       title="Available OpenStack Services")
+
+ServiceAvailableGroup = [
+    cfg.BoolOpt('mistral',
+                default=True,
+                help="Whether or not Mistral is expected to be available."),
+]
diff --git a/mistral_tempest_tests/plugin.py b/mistral_tempest_tests/plugin.py
index ff7f0a6ad..c7b1bde42 100644
--- a/mistral_tempest_tests/plugin.py
+++ b/mistral_tempest_tests/plugin.py
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@
 
 import os
 
+from tempest import config
 from tempest.test_discover import plugins
 
+from mistral_tempest_tests import config as mistral_config
+
 
 class MistralTempestPlugin(plugins.TempestPlugin):
     def load_tests(self):
@@ -28,7 +31,11 @@ class MistralTempestPlugin(plugins.TempestPlugin):
         return full_test_dir, base_path
 
     def register_opts(self, conf):
-        pass
+        config.register_opt_group(
+            conf,
+            mistral_config.service_available_group,
+            mistral_config.ServiceAvailableGroup
+        )
 
     def get_opt_lists(self):
         pass
diff --git a/mistral_tempest_tests/services/base.py b/mistral_tempest_tests/services/base.py
index 81d5dc38b..338cbeeb4 100644
--- a/mistral_tempest_tests/services/base.py
+++ b/mistral_tempest_tests/services/base.py
@@ -247,9 +247,15 @@ class AuthProv(auth.KeystoneV2AuthProvider):
 
 
 class TestCase(test.BaseTestCase):
-
     credentials = ['primary', 'alt']
 
+    @classmethod
+    def skip_checks(cls):
+        super(TestCase, cls).skip_checks()
+
+        if not CONF.service_available.mistral:
+            raise cls.skipException("Mistral support is required.")
+
     @classmethod
     def resource_setup(cls):
         """Client authentication.