diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1c533e282..009c13f72 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ project(mapnik
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake")
 
 set(ADDITIONAL_LIBARIES_PATHS "" CACHE STRING "currently only used on windows. Pass directories containing the dlls that are missing. You can ignore this, if the build (verify_app step) runs successfully" "")
+option(COPY_LIBRARIES_FOR_EXECUTABLES "copies required shared libaries (currently only windows) to the executable directory" ON)
 
 option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "build mapnik dynamic(ON) or static(OFF)" ON)
 option(BUILD_TEST "builds the tests" ON)