diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 27a88ddfe..90b10b7bd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ include_directories(
    core/synctex
 )
 
+option(BUILD_COVERAGE "Build the project with gcov support" OFF)
+
+if(BUILD_COVERAGE)
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage")
+    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -lgcov")
+endif()
+
 add_subdirectory( active )
 add_subdirectory( ui )
 add_subdirectory( shell )