diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1523397c9d..62eff71df3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -161,24 +161,28 @@ if(LYX_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "development")
   set(DefaultLyxStdlibDebug ON)
   set(DefaultLyxEnableAssertions ON)
   set(DefaultLyxProfile OFF)
+  set(DefaultExternalLibs OFF)
 elseif(LYX_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "prerelease")
   set(DefaultLyxDebug OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxRelease OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxStdlibDebug OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxEnableAssertions OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxProfile OFF)
+  set(DefaultExternalLibs ON)
 elseif(LYX_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "release")
   set(DefaultLyxDebug OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxRelease ON)
   set(DefaultLyxStdlibDebug OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxEnableAssertions OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxProfile OFF)
+  set(DefaultExternalLibs ON)
 elseif(LYX_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "gprof")
   set(DefaultLyxDebug ON)
   set(DefaultLyxRelease OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxStdlibDebug OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxEnableAssertions OFF)
   set(DefaultLyxProfile ON)
+  set(DefaultExternalLibs OFF)
 else()
   message(FATAL_ERROR "Invalid build type (${LYX_BUILD_TYPE}) encountered")
 endif()
@@ -220,15 +224,15 @@ LYX_COMBO(USE_QT            "Use Qt version as frontend" AUTO QT4 QT5)
 LYX_COMBO(USE_IPO           "Interprocedural optimization" OFF AUTO ON)
 #LYX_OPTION(3RDPARTY_BUILD   "Build 3rdparty libs" OFF ALL)
 LYX_OPTION(DISABLE_CALLSTACK_PRINTING "do not print a callstack when crashing" OFF ALL)
-LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_Z       "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib zlib" ON ALL)
-LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_DTL     "OFF := Build 3rdparty commands dt2dv and dv2dt" ON ALL)
-LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_ICONV   "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib iconvlib" ON ALL)
-LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_HUNSPELL "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib hunspelllib" ON ALL)
+LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_Z       "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib zlib" ${DefaultExternalLibs} ALL)
+LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_DTL     "OFF := Build 3rdparty commands dt2dv and dv2dt" ${DefaultExternalLibs} ALL)
+LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_ICONV   "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib iconvlib" ${DefaultExternalLibs} ALL)
+LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_HUNSPELL "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib hunspelllib" ${DefaultExternalLibs} ALL)
 LYX_COMBO(EXTERNAL_MYTHES   "OFF := Build 3rdparty lib mytheslib" AUTO OFF ON)
 
 # GCC specific
 LYX_OPTION(PROFILE              "Build with options for gprof" ${DefaultLyxProfile} GCC)
-LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_BOOST       "Use external boost" OFF GCC)
+LYX_OPTION(EXTERNAL_BOOST       "Use external boost" ${DefaultExternalLibs} GCC)
 LYX_OPTION(PROGRAM_SUFFIX       "Append version suffix to binaries" ON GCC)
 LYX_OPTION(DEBUG_GLIBC          "Enable libstdc++ debug mode" OFF GCC)
 LYX_OPTION(DEBUG_GLIBC_PEDANTIC "Enable libstdc++ pedantic debug mode" OFF GCC)