diff --git a/build/Jamfile b/build/Jamfile
index 1f44ff7f..79702105 100644
--- a/build/Jamfile
+++ b/build/Jamfile
@@ -88,13 +88,17 @@ local CPP_SOURCES =
   init_function module_builder objects cross_module errors
   ;
 
-lib boost_python_static : ../src/$(CPP_SOURCES).cpp
-    # requirements
-    : $(BOOST_PYTHON_INCLUDES)
-    <shared-linkable>true
-      <define>BOOST_PYTHON_STATIC_LIB=1
+# Only build the static library if a user really insists on it!
+if $(BOOST_PYTHON_STATIC_LIB)
+{
+    lib boost_python_static : ../src/$(CPP_SOURCES).cpp
+      # requirements
+      : $(BOOST_PYTHON_INCLUDES)
+        <shared-linkable>true
+        <define>BOOST_PYTHON_STATIC_LIB=1
         [ difference $(PYTHON_PROPERTIES) : <define>BOOST_PYTHON_DYNAMIC_LIB ] 
-      ;
+          ;
+}
 
 dll boost_python
   # $(SUFDLL[1])