diff --git a/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index fe1e120539f..34c33185677 100644
--- a/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ if (WITH_SPATIALITE)
 endif()
 
 if (GRASS_FOUND)
-  add_subdirectory(grass)
+  set (WITH_GRASS_PLUGIN TRUE CACHE BOOL "Determines whether the GRASS c++ plugin should be built")
+  if (WITH_GRASS_PLUGIN)
+    add_subdirectory(grass)
+  endif()
 endif()
 
 if (CUSTOM_PLUGINS)