diff --git a/persistent-sqlite.cabal b/persistent-sqlite.cabal
--- a/persistent-sqlite.cabal
+++ b/persistent-sqlite.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:            persistent-sqlite
-version:         0.2.2
+version:         0.2.2.1
 license:         BSD3
 license-file:    LICENSE
 author:          Michael Snoyman <michael@snoyman.com>
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 build-type:      Simple
 homepage:        http://docs.yesodweb.com/persistent/
 
+flag systemlib
+  description: Use the system-wide sqlite library
+  default: False
+
 library
     build-depends:   base >= 4 && < 5,
                      template-haskell >= 2.4 && < 2.5,
@@ -24,7 +28,10 @@
     exposed-modules: Database.Sqlite
                      Database.Persist.Sqlite
     ghc-options:     -Wall
-    c-sources:       cbits/sqlite3.c
+    if flag(systemlib)
+        extra-libraries: sqlite3
+    else
+        c-sources:   cbits/sqlite3.c
 
 source-repository head
   type:     git