diff --git a/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt b/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
index b5d2de4..5fd7880 100644
--- a/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ target_include_directories(gsl-lite SYSTEM INTERFACE)
 add_library(lexertl INTERFACE)
 target_include_directories(lexertl SYSTEM INTERFACE lexertl14/include)
 
-add_subdirectory(ghc_filesystem)
-
+if (NOT EXTERNAL_GHC_FILESYSTEM)
+  add_subdirectory(ghc_filesystem)
+endif()
diff --git a/CMake/MorphIOConfig.cmake b/CMake/MorphIOConfig.cmake
index 1ede9ae..f3dabde 100644
--- a/CMake/MorphIOConfig.cmake
+++ b/CMake/MorphIOConfig.cmake
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@ include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
 
 find_dependency(gsl-lite)
 find_dependency(HighFive)
+find_dependency(ghc_filesystem)
 
 include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/MorphIOTargets.cmake")
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 5d6cfb0..0201f94 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ option(MorphIO_CXX_WARNINGS "Compile C++ with warnings" ON)
 option(MorphIO_WERROR "If compiled with warnings, additionally activate '-Werror'" ON)
 option(EXTERNAL_CATCH2 "Use Catch2 from external source" OFF)
 option(EXTERNAL_HIGHFIVE "Use HighFive from external source" OFF)
+option(EXTERNAL_GHC_FILESYSTEM "Use ghc_filesystem from external source" OFF)
 option(EXTERNAL_PYBIND11 "Use pybind11 from external source" OFF)
 option(MORPHIO_TESTS "Build tests" ON)
 option(MORPHIO_USE_DOUBLE "Use doubles instead of floats" OFF)
@@ -40,6 +41,9 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 if (EXTERNAL_HIGHFIVE)
   find_package(HighFive REQUIRED)
 endif()
+if (EXTERNAL_GHC_FILESYSTEM)
+  find_package(ghc_filesystem REQUIRED)
+endif()
 if (EXTERNAL_PYBIND11)
   find_package(pybind11 REQUIRED CONFIG)
 endif()