--- bluefish-2.2.9/configure.ac
+++ bluefish-2.2.9/configure.ac
@@ -504,7 +504,15 @@
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi
 
+AC_ARG_WITH(
+	[charmap],
+	AC_HELP_STRING(
+		[--with-charmap],
+		[Build the charmap plugin if gucharmap is available @<:@default=yes@:>@]
+	)
+)
 
+if test "x$with_charmap" != "xno"; then
 # optionally build the charmap plugin if gucharmap is available
 AC_MSG_NOTICE([checking for optional libgucharmap development files])
 if test "x$with_gtk3" != "xno"; then
@@ -544,6 +552,10 @@
 		)]
 	)
 fi
+else
+	build_charmap_plugin=no
+	AC_MSG_WARN([Disabling the building of the charmap plugin.])
+fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL([ENABLE_CHARMAP_PLUGIN], [test "x$build_charmap_plugin" = "xyes"])
 
 AC_SEARCH_LIBS([log10], [m])