diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 99243a7d..3f183c8e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ if(TESTNET)
   add_definitions(-DTESTNET)  
 endif()
 
+set(OPENSSL_USE_STATIC_LIBS TRUE) # link statically
+find_package(OpenSSL REQUIRED)
+
 if(DISABLE_TOR)
   message("NOTICE: Building with disabled TOR support!")  
   add_definitions(-DDISABLE_TOR)