diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dfaaa0e..3bc61aa 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ if (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS AND UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(LASlib/src)
-if (NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+option(BUILD_TOOLS "" OFF)
+if (BUILD_TOOLS AND NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
 add_subdirectory(src)
 endif()