diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e2efdf203..7a00d57ae 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -610,6 +610,12 @@ AC_ARG_WITH([utils],
   [build_bitcoin_utils=$withval],
   [build_bitcoin_utils=yes])
 
+AC_ARG_WITH([libs],
+  [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-libs],
+  [build libraries (default=yes)])],
+  [build_bitcoin_libs=$withval],
+  [build_bitcoin_libs=yes])
+
 AC_ARG_WITH([daemon],
   [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-daemon],
   [build bitcoind daemon (default=yes)])],
@@ -660,6 +666,13 @@ AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to build utils (bitcoin-cli bitcoin-tx)])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_BITCOIN_UTILS], [test x$build_bitcoin_utils = xyes])
 AC_MSG_RESULT($build_bitcoin_utils)
 
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to build libraries])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([BUILD_BITCOIN_LIBS], [test x$build_bitcoin_libs = xyes])
+if test x$build_bitcoin_libs = xyes; then
+  AC_DEFINE(HAVE_CONSENSUS_LIB, 1, [Define this symbol if the consensus lib has been built])
+fi
+AC_MSG_RESULT($build_bitcoin_libs)
+
 dnl sets $bitcoin_enable_qt, $bitcoin_enable_qt_test, $bitcoin_enable_qt_dbus
 BITCOIN_QT_CONFIGURE([$use_pkgconfig], [qt4])
 
@@ -776,8 +789,8 @@ else
   AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
-if test x$build_bitcoin_utils$build_bitcoind$bitcoin_enable_qt$use_tests = xnononono; then
-  AC_MSG_ERROR([No targets! Please specify at least one of: --with-utils --with-daemon --with-gui or --enable-tests])
+if test x$build_bitcoin_utils$build_bitcoin_libs$build_bitcoind$bitcoin_enable_qt$use_tests = xnononono; then
+  AC_MSG_ERROR([No targets! Please specify at least one of: --with-utils --with-libs --with-daemon --with-gui or --enable-tests])
 fi
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL([TARGET_DARWIN], [test x$TARGET_OS = xdarwin])
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 63f2375c8..0d45203c9 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -49,7 +49,12 @@ BITCOIN_INCLUDES += $(BDB_CPPFLAGS)
 noinst_LIBRARIES += libbitcoin_wallet.a
 endif
 
+if BUILD_BITCOIN_LIBS
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libbitcoinconsensus.la
+LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS=libbitcoinconsensus.la
+else
+LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS=
+endif
 
 bin_PROGRAMS =
 TESTS =
@@ -361,6 +366,7 @@ libbitcoinconsensus_la_CPPFLAGS = $(CRYPTO_CFLAGS) -I$(builddir)/obj -DBUILD_BIT
 if USE_LIBSECP256K1
 libbitcoinconsensus_la_LIBADD += secp256k1/libsecp256k1.la
 endif
+endif
 
 CLEANFILES = leveldb/libleveldb.a leveldb/libmemenv.a *.gcda *.gcno
 
diff --git a/src/Makefile.test.include b/src/Makefile.test.include
index f8711f038..5fd2afe50 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.test.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.test.include
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ if ENABLE_WALLET
 test_test_bitcoin_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 
-test_test_bitcoin_LDADD += $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS)
+test_test_bitcoin_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS)
 test_test_bitcoin_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS) -static-libtool-libs
 
 nodist_test_test_bitcoin_SOURCES = $(GENERATED_TEST_FILES)