diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 70135e7d77117e77113b0fd99f172cf57c7c0fdd..52e346825d4e6c24ebefc25d8f73177002961640 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -238,7 +238,6 @@ endif()
 
 # Python bindings
 #----------------------------------------------------------
-option(ARB_WITH_PYTHON "enable python front end" OFF)
 if(ARB_WITH_PYTHON)
     # Required to link the dynamic libraries for python modules.
     # Effectively adds '-fpic' flag to CXX_FLAGS.