diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 31908fe50..3e0009415 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 # general
+option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS                "build shared libraries"                                OFF)
 option(LLAMA_STATIC                     "llama: static link libraries"                          OFF)
 option(LLAMA_NATIVE                     "llama: enable -march=native flag"                      ON)
 option(LLAMA_LTO                        "llama: enable link time optimization"                  OFF)