diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 839def7d6f7..00214782ca2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ if(LLVM_BUILD_TOOLS)
   add_subdirectory(tools)
 endif()
 
-option(LLVM_BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build LLVM example programs." ON)
+option(LLVM_BUILD_EXAMPLES "Build LLVM example programs." OFF)
 if(LLVM_BUILD_EXAMPLES)
   add_subdirectory(examples)
 endif ()