diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1b7948402..d15f7f708 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ endif()
 # so we provide an option similar to BUILD_TESTING, but just for MPM.
 option(MPM_BUILD_TESTING "enable testing for mpm" ON)
 
+# CMake option for building mpm as a shared library for CI
+option(MPM_BUILD_LIB "enable libmpm" OFF)
+
 # CMake Modules
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake" ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH})
 
@@ -132,10 +135,13 @@ SET(mpm_src
   ${mpm_SOURCE_DIR}/src/element.cc
 )
 
+if(MPM_BUILD_LIB)
 add_library(lmpm SHARED ${mpm_src} ${mpm_vtk})
-
 add_executable(mpm ${mpm_SOURCE_DIR}/src/main.cc)
 target_link_libraries(mpm lmpm)
+else()
+add_executable(mpm ${mpm_SOURCE_DIR}/src/main.cc ${mpm_src} ${mpm_vtk})  
+endif()
 
 # Unit test
 if(MPM_BUILD_TESTING)
@@ -177,10 +183,16 @@ if(MPM_BUILD_TESTING)
     ${mpm_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/write_mesh_particles_unitcell.cc
     ${mpm_SOURCE_DIR}/tests/elements/hexahedron_gimp_element_test.cc
   )
-  add_executable(mpmtest ${test_src})
-  target_link_libraries(mpmtest lmpm)
-  add_test(NAME mpmtest COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:mpmtest>)
-  enable_testing()
+  if(MPM_BUILD_LIB)
+    add_executable(mpmtest ${test_src})
+    target_link_libraries(mpmtest lmpm)
+    add_test(NAME mpmtest COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:mpmtest>)
+    enable_testing()
+  else()
+    add_executable(mpmtest ${test_src} ${mpm_src} ${mpm_vtk})
+    add_test(NAME mpmtest COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:mpmtest>)
+    enable_testing()
+  endif()
 endif()
 
 # Coverage