diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index baf93dc9..3d120f03 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/modules" )
 set(ZINT_DEBUG FALSE CACHE BOOL "Set debug compile flag")
 set(ZINT_SANITIZE FALSE CACHE BOOL "Set sanitize compile/link flags")
 set(ZINT_TEST FALSE CACHE BOOL "Set test compile flag")
+set(ZINT_STATIC FALSE CACHE BOOL "Build static library")
 
 include (SetPaths.cmake)
 
diff --git a/backend/CMakeLists.txt b/backend/CMakeLists.txt
index 98e6faa8..0649dcc2 100644
--- a/backend/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/backend/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ else(PNG_FOUND)
 endif(PNG_FOUND)
 
 add_library(zint SHARED ${zint_SRCS})
-add_library(zint-static STATIC ${zint_SRCS})
+if(ZINT_STATIC)
+	add_library(zint-static STATIC ${zint_SRCS})
+endif(ZINT_STATIC)
 
 set_target_properties(zint PROPERTIES 	SOVERSION "${ZINT_VERSION_MAJOR}.${ZINT_VERSION_MINOR}"
 					VERSION ${ZINT_VERSION})