diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bb2decd..02d853c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ include(GNUInstallDirs)
 set(PACKAGE_NAME matplotlib_cpp)
 set(INSTALL_CONFIGDIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${PACKAGE_NAME}/cmake)
 
+# enable/disable examples
+option(BUILD_EXAMPLES "Compile examples" OFF)
 
 # Library target
 add_library(matplotlib_cpp INTERFACE)
 target_include_directories(matplotlib_cpp
   INTERFACE
-    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/examples>
+    $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}>
     $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:include>
 )
 target_compile_features(matplotlib_cpp INTERFACE
@@ -37,69 +39,71 @@ install(
 
 
 # Examples
-add_executable(minimal examples/minimal.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(minimal PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(minimal PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(basic examples/basic.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(basic PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(basic PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(modern examples/modern.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(modern PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(modern PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(animation examples/animation.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(animation PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(animation PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(nonblock examples/nonblock.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(nonblock PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(nonblock PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(xkcd examples/xkcd.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(xkcd PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(xkcd PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(bar examples/bar.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(bar PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(bar PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(fill_inbetween examples/fill_inbetween.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(fill_inbetween PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(fill_inbetween PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(fill examples/fill.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(fill PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(fill PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(update examples/update.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(update PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(update PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(subplot2grid examples/subplot2grid.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(subplot2grid PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(subplot2grid PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-add_executable(lines3d examples/lines3d.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(lines3d PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-set_target_properties(lines3d PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-if(Python3_NumPy_FOUND)
-  add_executable(surface examples/surface.cpp)
-  target_link_libraries(surface PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-  set_target_properties(surface PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-  add_executable(colorbar examples/colorbar.cpp)
-  target_link_libraries(colorbar PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-  set_target_properties(colorbar PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-  add_executable(contour examples/contour.cpp)
-  target_link_libraries(contour PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-  set_target_properties(contour PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
-
-  add_executable(spy examples/spy.cpp)
-  target_link_libraries(spy PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
-  set_target_properties(spy PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+if (BUILD_EXAMPLES)
+  add_executable(minimal examples/minimal.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(minimal PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(minimal PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+
+  add_executable(basic examples/basic.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(basic PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(basic PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(modern examples/modern.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(modern PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(modern PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(animation examples/animation.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(animation PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(animation PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(nonblock examples/nonblock.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(nonblock PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(nonblock PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(xkcd examples/xkcd.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(xkcd PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(xkcd PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(bar examples/bar.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(bar PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(bar PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(fill_inbetween examples/fill_inbetween.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(fill_inbetween PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(fill_inbetween PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(fill examples/fill.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(fill PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(fill PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(update examples/update.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(update PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(update PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+
+  add_executable(subplot2grid examples/subplot2grid.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(subplot2grid PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(subplot2grid PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  add_executable(lines3d examples/lines3d.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(lines3d PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+  set_target_properties(lines3d PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+  if(Python3_NumPy_FOUND)
+    add_executable(surface examples/surface.cpp)
+    target_link_libraries(surface PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+    set_target_properties(surface PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+    add_executable(colorbar examples/colorbar.cpp)
+    target_link_libraries(colorbar PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+    set_target_properties(colorbar PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+    add_executable(contour examples/contour.cpp)
+    target_link_libraries(contour PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+    set_target_properties(contour PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  
+    add_executable(spy examples/spy.cpp)
+    target_link_libraries(spy PRIVATE matplotlib_cpp)
+    set_target_properties(spy PROPERTIES RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin")
+  endif()
 endif()