diff --git a/libs/freetype/README.md b/libs/freetype/README.md
index 9a794849..2ed89e79 100644
--- a/libs/freetype/README.md
+++ b/libs/freetype/README.md
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ pub fn build(b: *Builder) void {
     ...
     exe.addPackage(freetype.pkg);
     freetype.link(b, exe, .{});
+
+    // use this option if you are including zlib separately
+    //freetype.link(b, exe, .{ .freetype = .{ .use_system_zlib = true } });
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/libs/freetype/build.zig b/libs/freetype/build.zig
index 9ab258a4..c201e124 100644
--- a/libs/freetype/build.zig
+++ b/libs/freetype/build.zig
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ pub const FreetypeOptions = struct {
     config_path: ?[]const u8 = null,
     install_libs: bool = false,
     brotli: bool = false,
+    use_system_zlib: bool = false,
 };
 
 pub const HarfbuzzOptions = struct {
@@ -131,6 +132,9 @@ pub fn buildFreetype(b: *Builder, mode: std.builtin.Mode, target: std.zig.CrossT
 
     const lib = b.addStaticLibrary("freetype", null);
     lib.defineCMacro("FT2_BUILD_LIBRARY", "1");
+    if (options.use_system_zlib) {
+        lib.defineCMacro("FT_CONFIG_OPTION_SYSTEM_ZLIB", "1");
+    }
     lib.setBuildMode(mode);
     lib.setTarget(target);
     lib.linkLibC();