diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 347b87c2b7..d6c1c4b05f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ else()
 	option(ENABLE_SDL "Enables SDL as a generic controller backend" OFF)
 endif()
 
+if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "Linux" AND NOT ANDROID)
+	option(ENABLE_EVDEV "Enables the evdev controller backend" ON)
+endif()
+
 if(APPLE)
 	option(OSX_USE_DEFAULT_SEARCH_PATH "Don't prioritize system library paths" OFF)
 endif()
@@ -529,16 +533,16 @@ if(USE_EGL)
 	add_definitions(-DUSE_EGL=1)
 endif()
 
-if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} STREQUAL "Linux")
-	include(FindLibudev OPTIONAL)
-	include(FindLibevdev OPTIONAL)
+if(ENABLE_EVDEV)
+	include(FindLibudev REQUIRED)
+	include(FindLibevdev REQUIRED)
 	if(LIBUDEV_FOUND AND LIBEVDEV_FOUND)
 		message("libevdev/libudev found, enabling evdev controller backend")
 		add_definitions(-DHAVE_LIBUDEV=1)
 		add_definitions(-DHAVE_LIBEVDEV=1)
 		include_directories(${LIBUDEV_INCLUDE_DIR} ${LIBEVDEV_INCLUDE_DIR})
 	else()
-		message("Could find libevdev/libudev, disabling evdev controller backend")
+		message(FATAL_ERROR "Couldn't find libevdev and/or libudev. Can't build evdev controller backend.\nDisable ENABLE_EVDEV if you wish to build without controller support")
 	endif()
 endif()