diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e2c7a1d..d143ecf 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
 project(basisu)
 option(STATIC "static linking" FALSE)
 option(SAN "sanitize" FALSE)
+option(EXAMPLES "Build examples" FALSE)
 
 set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/bin)
 
@@ -176,6 +177,9 @@ target_link_libraries(basisu PRIVATE basisu_encoder)
 # Create the new example executable and link against the static library
 add_executable(examples example/example.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(examples PRIVATE basisu_encoder)
+if(NOT EXAMPLES)
+    set_target_properties(examples PROPERTIES EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL 1)
+endif()
 
 if (ZSTD)
     target_compile_definitions(basisu PRIVATE BASISD_SUPPORT_KTX2_ZSTD=1)