diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 58fcb09b..187ed198 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ option(FORCE_SSE "Compile with SSE instruction only" ON)
 option(FORCE_SSSE3 "Compile with SSSE3 instruction only" OFF)
 option(FORCE_SSE41 "Compile with SSE4.1 instruction only" OFF)
 option(OPTIONAL_TEST "Compile optional test (might be broken)" OFF)
+option(USE_SYSTEM_HIDAPI "Use the system library for hidapi" OFF)
 # UNITTEST option must be after CMAKE_BUILT_TYPE
 
 # where cmake find custom modules
@@ -72,7 +73,11 @@ set(CUSTOM_SRC_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src")
 set(CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/external")
 set(CUSTOM_MISC_DIR "${CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR}/misc")
 set(CUSTOM_REGEX_DIR "${CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR}/regex")
-set(CUSTOM_HIDAPI_DIR "${CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR}/hidapi")
+if(USE_SYSTEM_HIDAPI)
+  find_package(hidapi REQUIRED)
+else()
+  set(CUSTOM_HIDAPI_DIR "${CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR}/hidapi")
+endif()
 set(CUSTOM_GEOTRANZ_DIR "${CUSTOM_EXTERNAL_DIR}/geotranz")
 set(CUSTOM_DATA_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/data")
 set(CUSTOM_SCRIPTS_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/scripts")
@@ -374,9 +379,15 @@ add_subdirectory(data)
 
 # external libraries
 add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_GEOTRANZ_DIR})
-add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_REGEX_DIR})
-add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_HIDAPI_DIR})
-add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_MISC_DIR})
+if(WIN32)
+  add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_REGEX_DIR})
+endif()
+if(NOT USE_SYSTEM_HIDAPI)
+  add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_HIDAPI_DIR})
+endif()
+if(NOT LINUX)
+  add_subdirectory(${CUSTOM_MISC_DIR})
+endif()
 
 # direwolf source code and utilities
 add_subdirectory(src)