diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 5689932..519d4cf 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ option(INTERNAL_NETCDF "Build internal version of NETCDF" OFF)
 option(INTERNAL_BOOST "Build internal version of BOOST" OFF)
 option(USE_GIT_VERSION "Use GIT version to pad version number" OFF)
 option(YORICK_SUPPORT "Add for pleasant yorick support" ON)
+option(BUILD_PYTHON "Build the python modules" ON)
 IF(USE_GIT_VERSION)
   get_git_head_revision(HEAD GIT_VER)
   SET(EXTRA_VERSION "-${GIT_VER}")
@@ -75,6 +76,8 @@ SET(CPACK_SOURCE_IGNORE_FILES
 
 add_subdirectory(src)
 add_subdirectory(sample)
-add_subdirectory(python)
+if(BUILD_PYTHON)
+  add_subdirectory(python)
+endif(BUILD_PYTHON)
 
 include(CPack)