--- a/ffi/build.py
+++ b/ffi/build.py
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ def main_posix(library_ext):
 
 
 def main():
+    if os.environ.get("LLVMLITE_SKIP_BUILD_LIBRARY", "0") == "1":
+        return
     ELF_systems = ('linux', 'gnu', 'freebsd', 'openbsd', 'netbsd')
     if sys.platform == 'win32':
         main_windows()
