--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -470,7 +470,10 @@ if(NOT DEFINED INSTANCES_ONLY)
         LIBRARY_NAME composablekernel
         PACKAGE_NAME examples
    )
-   add_subdirectory(example)
+   option(BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build examples" OFF)
+   if(BUILD_EXAMPLES)
+     add_subdirectory(example)
+   endif()
    if(BUILD_TESTING)
       add_subdirectory(test)
    endif()