diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fe133eb26b..9ac172d06a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ LYX_OPTION(CPACK            "Use the CPack management (Implies LYX_INSTALL optio
 LYX_OPTION(LOCALVERSIONING  "Add version info to created package name (only used if LYX_CPACK option set)" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(INSTALL          "Build install projects/rules (implies a bunch of other options)" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(NLS              "Enable Native Language Support (NLS)" ON ALL)
+LYX_OPTION(REQUIRE_SPELLCHECK "Abort if no spellchecker available" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(ASPELL           "Require aspell" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(ENCHANT          "Require Enchant" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(HUNSPELL         "Require Hunspell" OFF ALL)
@@ -540,20 +541,22 @@ endif()
 
 include_directories(${TOP_BINARY_DIR} ${TOP_SRC_DIR}/src)
 
-if(LYX_ASPELL)
-	find_package(ASPELL REQUIRED)
-	include_directories(${ASPELL_INCLUDE_DIR})
-endif()
-
-if(LYX_ENCHANT)
-	find_package(Enchant REQUIRED)
-	include_directories(${ENCHANT_INCLUDE_DIR})
-endif()
-
-if(LYX_HUNSPELL)
-	find_package(Hunspell REQUIRED)
-	include_directories(${HUNSPELL_INCLUDE_DIR})
-endif()
+set(Spelling_FOUND OFF)
+foreach(_spell "ASPELL" "Enchant" "Hunspell")
+  string(TOUPPER ${_spell} _upspell)
+  find_package(${_spell})
+  if (${_upspell}_FOUND)
+    include_directories(${${_upspell}_INCLUDE_DIR})
+    set(Spelling_FOUND ON)
+    message(STATUS "Building with USE_${_upspell}")
+  else()
+    if(LYX_${_upspell})
+      message(FATAL_ERROR "Required ${_spell} devel package not found")
+    else()
+      message(STATUS "${_upspell} not found, building without ${_spell} support")
+    endif()
+  endif()
+endforeach()
 
 if(LYX_NLS)
 	FIND_PROGRAM(LYX_PYTHON_EXECUTABLE python2 python HINTS ${GNUWIN32_DIR}/python)
@@ -819,6 +822,15 @@ if(LYX_NLS)
 	message(STATUS)
 endif()
 
+if(NOT Spelling_FOUND)
+  if(LYX_REQUIRE_SPELLCHECK)
+    set(_mode "FATAL_ERROR")
+  else()
+    set(_mode "STATUS")
+  endif()
+  message(${_mode} "No spellcheck libraries found. Lyx will be unable use spellchecking")
+endif()
+
 include("${TOP_CMAKE_PATH}/LyxPackaging.cmake")
 
 if(ENABLE_DIST)