diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f5806369..7786d9cd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ endif()
 
 option(CLI11_WARNINGS_AS_ERRORS "Turn all warnings into errors (for CI)")
 option(CLI11_SINGLE_FILE "Generate a single header file")
-option(CLI11_PRECOMPILED "Generate a precompiled static library instead of a header-only")
+option(CLI11_PRECOMPILED "Generate a precompiled static library instead of a header-only" OFF)
 cmake_dependent_option(CLI11_SANITIZERS "Download the sanitizers CMake config" OFF
                        "NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS 3.11" OFF)