diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d7a939dc..0b9155aa 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ if(SUBPROJECT)
   if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE)
     option(CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE "Generate position independent (PIC)" ON)
   endif()
+  set(MDBX_MANAGE_BUILD_FLAGS_DEFAULT OFF)
 else()
   option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libraries (DLLs)" ON)
   option(CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE "Generate position independent (PIC)" ON)
@@ -341,9 +342,14 @@ else()
     endif()
   endif(NOT MDBX_AMALGAMATED_SOURCE)
 
-  setup_compile_flags()
+  set(MDBX_MANAGE_BUILD_FLAGS_DEFAULT ON)
 endif(SUBPROJECT)
 
+option(MDBX_MANAGE_BUILD_FLAGS "Allow libmdbx to configure/manage/override its own build flags" ${MDBX_MANAGE_BUILD_FLAGS_DEFAULT})
+if(MDBX_MANAGE_BUILD_FLAGS)
+  setup_compile_flags()
+endif()
+
 list(FIND CMAKE_C_COMPILE_FEATURES c_std_11 HAS_C11)
 list(FIND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILE_FEATURES cxx_std_11 HAS_CXX11)
 list(FIND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILE_FEATURES cxx_std_14 HAS_CXX14)