diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dae638be8..d9e420174 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ option(USE_SHARED_LIBWEBP "Use your installed copy of libwebp" off)
 option(USE_SHARED_TINYXML "Use your installed copy of tinyxml" off)
 option(USE_SHARED_PIXMAN  "Use your installed copy of pixman" off)
 option(USE_SHARED_FREETYPE "Use shared FreeType library" off)
+option(USE_SHARED_HARFBUZZ "Use shared Harfbuzz library" off)
 option(USE_SHARED_ALLEGRO4 "Use shared Allegro 4 library (without resize support)" off)
 option(ENABLE_MEMLEAK     "Enable memory-leaks detector (only for developers)" off)
 option(ENABLE_UPDATER     "Enable automatic check for updates" on)
@@ -258,8 +259,13 @@ endif()
 include_directories(${FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
 # harfbuzz
-set(HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES harfbuzz)
-set(HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS ${HARFBUZZ_DIR}/src)
+if(USE_SHARED_HARFBUZZ)
+  find_package(HarfBuzz)
+else()
+  set(HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES harfbuzz)
+  set(HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS ${HARFBUZZ_DIR}/src)
+endif()
+include_directories(${HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
 if(USE_SHARED_GIFLIB)
   find_package(GIF REQUIRED)
diff --git a/cmake/FindHarfBuzz.cmake b/cmake/FindHarfBuzz.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f394b82bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/FindHarfBuzz.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2012, Intel Corporation
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+#   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+#   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its contributors may
+#   be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+#   specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+#
+# Try to find Harfbuzz include and library directories.
+#
+# After successful discovery, this will set for inclusion where needed:
+# HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS - containg the HarfBuzz headers
+# HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES - containg the HarfBuzz library
+
+include(FindPkgConfig)
+
+pkg_check_modules(PC_HARFBUZZ harfbuzz>=0.9.7)
+
+find_path(HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS NAMES hb.h
+    HINTS ${PC_HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${PC_HARFBUZZ_INCLUDEDIR}
+)
+
+find_library(HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES NAMES harfbuzz
+    HINTS ${PC_HARFBUZZ_LIBRARY_DIRS} ${PC_HARFBUZZ_LIBDIR}
+)
+
+# HarfBuzz 0.9.18 split ICU support into a separate harfbuzz-icu library.
+if ("${PC_HARFBUZZ_VERSION}" VERSION_GREATER "0.9.17")
+    if (HarfBuzz_FIND_REQUIRED)
+        set(_HARFBUZZ_REQUIRED REQUIRED)
+    else ()
+        set(_HARFBUZZ_REQUIRED "")
+    endif ()
+    pkg_check_modules(PC_HARFBUZZ_ICU harfbuzz-icu>=0.9.18 ${_HARFBUZZ_REQUIRED})
+    find_library(HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARIES NAMES harfbuzz-icu
+        HINTS ${PC_HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARY_DIRS} ${PC_HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBDIR}
+    )
+    if (HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARIES)
+        list(APPEND HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES "${HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARIES}")
+    endif ()
+    set(_HARFBUZZ_EXTRA_REQUIRED_VAR "HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARIES")
+else ()
+    set(_HARFBUZZ_EXTRA_REQUIRED_VAR "")
+endif ()
+
+include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+FIND_PACKAGE_HANDLE_STANDARD_ARGS(HarfBuzz DEFAULT_MSG HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS
+    HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES ${_HARFBUZZ_EXTRA_REQUIRED_VAR})
+
+mark_as_advanced(
+    HARFBUZZ_ICU_LIBRARIES
+    HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS
+    HARFBUZZ_LIBRARIES
+)
diff --git a/third_party/CMakeLists.txt b/third_party/CMakeLists.txt
index bda297fa6..5bb44dc67 100644
--- a/third_party/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/third_party/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ if(NOT USE_SHARED_FREETYPE)
   endif()
 endif()
 
-add_subdirectory(harfbuzz-cmake)
+if(NOT USE_SHARED_HARFBUZZ)
+  add_subdirectory(harfbuzz-cmake)
+endif()
+
 add_subdirectory(simpleini)
 add_subdirectory(fmt)