diff --git a/external/CMakeLists.txt b/external/CMakeLists.txt
index be7dbada..9c69674e 100644
--- a/external/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/external/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ endif()
 add_subdirectory(expected)
 add_subdirectory(ffmpeg)
 add_subdirectory(gsl)
-add_subdirectory(hunspell)
+if (add_hunspell_library)
+	add_subdirectory(hunspell)
+endif()
 add_subdirectory(iconv)
 add_subdirectory(lz4)
 add_subdirectory(openal)
diff --git a/variables.cmake b/variables.cmake
index 2926fb15..3c712162 100644
--- a/variables.cmake
+++ b/variables.cmake
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ if (DESKTOP_APP_SPECIAL_TARGET STREQUAL ""
     set(disable_autoupdate 1)
 endif()
 
+set(add_hunspell_library 0)
+if ((WIN32
+  OR (LINUX AND NOT DESKTOP_APP_USE_ENCHANT)
+  OR DESKTOP_APP_USE_HUNSPELL_ONLY)
+  AND NOT DESKTOP_APP_DISABLE_SPELLCHECK)
+    set(add_hunspell_library 1)
+endif()
+
 set(build_osx 0)
 set(build_macstore 0)
 set(build_winstore 0)