diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 42bfb7e236d..b065c4480c8 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 # USE_SYSTEM_LIB_SQLITE3 = 1
 # USE_SYSTEM_LIB_PORTMIDI = 1
 # USE_SYSTEM_LIB_PORTAUDIO = 1
+# USE_SYSTEM_LIB_UV = 1
 # USE_BUNDLED_LIB_SDL2 = 1
 
 # MESA_INSTALL_ROOT = /opt/mesa
@@ -403,6 +404,10 @@ ifdef USE_BUNDLED_LIB_SDL2
 PARAMS += --with-bundled-sdl2
 endif
 
+ifndef USE_SYSTEM_LIB_UV
+PARAMS += --with-bundled-libuv
+endif
+
 #-------------------------------------------------
 # distribution may change things
 #-------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/scripts/genie.lua b/scripts/genie.lua
index ad60bc79252..c35252e2657 100644
--- a/scripts/genie.lua
+++ b/scripts/genie.lua
@@ -162,6 +162,11 @@ newoption {
     description = 'Build bundled SDL2 library',
 }
 
+newoption {
+    trigger = 'with-bundled-libuv',
+    description = 'Build bundled libuv library',
+}
+
 newoption {
 	trigger = "distro",
 	description = "Choose distribution",
diff --git a/scripts/src/3rdparty.lua b/scripts/src/3rdparty.lua
index 62262cef282..525789a92f1 100644
--- a/scripts/src/3rdparty.lua
+++ b/scripts/src/3rdparty.lua
@@ -951,6 +951,7 @@ end
 -- libuv library objects
 --------------------------------------------------
 if _OPTIONS["USE_LIBUV"]=="1" then
+if _OPTIONS["with-bundled-libuv"] then
 project "uv"
 	uuid "cd2afe7f-139d-49c3-9000-fc9119f3cea0"
 	kind "StaticLib"
@@ -1160,6 +1161,11 @@ project "http-parser"
 		}
 	end
 
+else
+links {
+	"libuv",
+}
+end
 --------------------------------------------------
 -- SDL2 library
 --------------------------------------------------