--- a/ffi/build.py
+++ b/ffi/build.py
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@
 
 
 def main():
+    if os.environ.get("LLVMLITE_SKIP_BUILD_LIBRARY", "0") == "1":
+        return
     if sys.platform == 'win32':
         main_windows()
     elif sys.platform.startswith(('linux', 'gnu')):