diff --git a/external/CMakeLists.txt b/external/CMakeLists.txt
index 7f8f8ab..7059e3f 100644
--- a/external/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/external/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ else()
     set(EXTRA_QT_CMAKE_ARGS "")
 endif()
 
+if(WIN32)
+    set(RDKIT_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS_VAL ON)
+else()
+    set(RDKIT_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS_VAL OFF)
+endif()
+
 ExternalProject_Add(
   fmt
   GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/fmtlib/fmt.git
@@ -130,7 +136,7 @@ ExternalProject_Add(
     -DRDK_BUILD_XYZ2MOL_SUPPORT=ON
     -DRDK_INSTALL_COMIC_FONTS=OFF
     -DRDK_INSTALL_INTREE=OFF
-    -DRDK_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS=ON
+    -DRDK_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS=${RDKIT_INSTALL_STATIC_LIBS_VAL}
     -DRDK_OPTIMIZE_POPCNT=OFF
     -DRDK_USE_BOOST_STACKTRACE=OFF)