diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7e9733ab1..a9f11284f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -338,9 +338,11 @@ endif()
 if (${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Linux")
 	option(LWS_WITH_NETLINK "Monitor Netlink for Routing Table changes" ON)
 	option(LWS_WITH_BINDTODEVICE "Use bind to interface socket option" ON)
+	option(LWS_WITH_LIBCAP "Enable libcap" ON)
 else()
 	set(LWS_WITH_NETLINK 0)
 	set(LWS_WITH_BINDTODEVICE 0)
+	set(LWS_WITH_LIBCAP OFF)
 endif()
 option(LWS_WITH_MCUFONT_ENCODER "Build the ttf to mcufont encoder" OFF)
 
@@ -726,7 +728,11 @@ if (WIN32 OR MSVC)
 	endif()
 endif()
 
-CHECK_LIBRARY_EXISTS(cap cap_set_flag "" LWS_HAVE_LIBCAP)
+if (LWS_WITH_LIBCAP)
+   CHECK_LIBRARY_EXISTS(cap cap_set_flag "" LWS_HAVE_LIBCAP)
+else()
+   set(LWS_HAVE_LIBCAP OFF)
+endif()
 
 
 if (LWS_WITH_ZLIB AND NOT LWS_WITH_BUNDLED_ZLIB)