diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index d9413be..75fab0c 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ arpack-ng - 3.8.0
 
 [ Kyle Guinn ]
  * [BUG FIX]: fix 'eval: Syntax error: "(" unexpected' error at build time.
+ * Only build shared libraries by default.  To build static libraries, use
+   --enable-static (autotools) or -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF (cmake).
 
 [ David Schwörer ]
  * Support of gfortran 10
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b53d18..a321433 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ if (POLICY CMP0042)
   cmake_policy (SET CMP0042 NEW)
 endif ()
 
+option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libraries instead of static libraries" ON)
 option(MPI "Enable parallel support" OFF)
 option(ICB "Enable support for *[ae]upd_c with ISO_C_BINDING" OFF)
 option(ICBEXMM "Enable support for matrix market example based on ICB" OFF)
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 82589fd..da35861 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ ifdef([LT_INIT], [], [
   m4exit([1])])
 
 LT_PREREQ([2.4.2])
-LT_INIT([win32-dll])
+LT_INIT([win32-dll disable-static])
 
 dnl See if compiling parpack
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([mpi],