diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6abecb78..e0ff9f99 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,9 +6,14 @@ set(PIP_BUILD 1)
 include(CheckFunctionExists)
 include(PIPMacros.cmake)
 
+set(_ICU_DEFAULT ON)
+if(APPLE)
+	set(_ICU_DEFAULT OFF)
+endif()
+
 
 # Options
-option(ICU "Unicode support" ON)
+option(ICU "Unicode support" ${_ICU_DEFAULT})
 option(STD_IOSTREAM "Building with std iostream operators support" OFF)
 option(INTROSPECTION "Build with introspection" OFF)
 option(LIB "System install" ON)