diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 329c5584..1b352ded 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,17 +31,26 @@ include(CTest)
 
 
 # Build options ################################################################
-include(CMakeDependentOption)
-option(BUILD_FAIRMQ "Build FairMQ library and devices." ON)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_TESTING "Build tests." OFF "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_NANOMSG_TRANSPORT "Build nanomsg transport." OFF "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_OFI_TRANSPORT "Build experimental OFI transport." OFF "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_DDS_PLUGIN "Build DDS plugin." OFF "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_PMIX_PLUGIN "Build PMIx plugin." OFF "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-cmake_dependent_option(BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build FairMQ examples." ON "BUILD_FAIRMQ" OFF)
-option(BUILD_SDK "Build the FairMQ controller SDK." OFF)
-option(BUILD_DOCS "Build FairMQ documentation." OFF)
-option(FAST_BUILD "Fast production build. Not recommended for development." OFF)
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_FAIRMQ            "Build FairMQ library and devices."
+                                             DEFAULT ON)
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_TESTING           "Build tests."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_NANOMSG_TRANSPORT "Build nanomsg transport."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_OFI_TRANSPORT     "Build experimental OFI transport."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_DDS_PLUGIN        "Build DDS plugin."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_PMIX_PLUGIN       "Build PMIx plugin."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_EXAMPLES          "Build FairMQ examples."
+                                             DEFAULT ON  REQUIRES "BUILD_FAIRMQ")
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_SDK               "Build the FairMQ controller SDK."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF)
+fairmq_build_option(BUILD_DOCS              "Build FairMQ documentation."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF)
+fairmq_build_option(FAST_BUILD              "Fast production build. Not recommended for development."
+                                             DEFAULT OFF)
 ################################################################################
 
 
diff --git a/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake b/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
index 9f0fc789..8aa9791d 100644
--- a/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
+++ b/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
@@ -480,3 +480,41 @@ function(build_bundled package bundle)
 
   message(STATUS "Building bundled ${package} - done")
 endfunction()
+
+macro(fairmq_build_option option description)
+  cmake_parse_arguments(ARGS "" "DEFAULT;REQUIRES" "" ${ARGN})
+
+  if(ARGS_DEFAULT)
+    set(__default__ ON)
+  else()
+    set(__default__ OFF)
+  endif()
+
+  if(ARGS_REQUIRES)
+    include(CMakeDependentOption)
+    set(__requires__ ${ARGS_REQUIRES})
+    string(REGEX REPLACE " +" ";" __requires_condition__ "${__requires__}")
+    if(${__requires_condition__})
+    else()
+      if(${option})
+        message(WARNING "Cannot enable build option ${option}, depending options are not set: ${__requires_condition__}.")
+      endif()
+    endif()
+  else()
+    set(__requires__)
+  endif()
+
+  if(__requires__)
+    cmake_dependent_option(${option} ${description} ${__default__} ${__requires__} OFF)
+  else()
+    option(${option} ${description} ${__default__})
+  endif()
+
+  set(__default__)
+  set(__requires__)
+  set(__requires_condition__)
+  set(ARGS_DEFAULT)
+  set(ARGS_REQUIRES)
+  set(option)
+  set(description)
+endmacro()