diff --git a/devices/bladerf1/CMakeLists.txt b/devices/bladerf1/CMakeLists.txt
index 06039c412..989c5c4d7 100644
--- a/devices/bladerf1/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/devices/bladerf1/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ add_library(bladerf1device SHARED
     ${bladerf1device_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(bladerf1device bladerf)
+endif()
+
 set_target_properties(bladerf1device
     PROPERTIES DEFINE_SYMBOL "devices_EXPORTS")
 
diff --git a/devices/bladerf2/CMakeLists.txt b/devices/bladerf2/CMakeLists.txt
index 2c35973ed..1f5930e45 100644
--- a/devices/bladerf2/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/devices/bladerf2/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ add_library(bladerf2device SHARED
     ${bladerf2device_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(bladerf2device bladerf)
+endif()
+
 set_target_properties(bladerf2device
     PROPERTIES DEFINE_SYMBOL "devices_EXPORTS")
 
diff --git a/external/CMakeLists.txt b/external/CMakeLists.txt
index bcb3d0f6d..4f7e7de08 100644
--- a/external/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/external/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ set(MBELIB_TAG "debian/1.3.0")
 set(SERIALDV_TAG abd65a0fc2d5339808194862d14119b0cba70424)
 set(DSDCC_TAG 952fb5f5f7bf1928a290ad62acce35492df13f5d)
 set(LIMESUITE_TAG "v19.01.0")
+set(BLADERF_TAG 896d2431b3a35a4b31b6e729386202ebf5fdc5c0)
 
 
 # For some external project macros
@@ -181,9 +182,10 @@ else()
   set(LIBDSDCC_LIBRARIES "${binary_dir}/libdsdcc${CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}" CACHE INTERNAL "")
 endif()
 
+# Device interface libraries. Use external libraries build for these. Only Linux for now.
 if (LINUX)
-    # apt install liblimesuite-dev (only on ubuntu 18.04). Can be picky on version though so let's build it. Linux only for now.
-    # needs pkgconfig, libusb and sqlite3
+    # apt install liblimesuite-dev (only on ubuntu 18.04). Can be picky on version though so let's build it.
+    # needs pkgconfig and libusb
     ExternalProject_Add(limesuite
         GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/myriadrf/LimeSuite.git
         GIT_TAG ${LIMESUITE_TAG}
@@ -195,6 +197,22 @@ if (LINUX)
     set(LIMESUITE_FOUND ON CACHE INTERNAL "")
     set(LIMESUITE_INCLUDE_DIR "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/limesuite/src/limesuite/src" CACHE INTERNAL "")
     set(LIMESUITE_LIBRARY "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/lib/libLimeSuite.so" CACHE INTERNAL "")
+
+    # apt install libbladerf-dev
+    # needs pkgconfig and libusb
+    ExternalProject_Add(bladerf
+        GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF.git
+        GIT_TAG ${BLADERF_TAG}
+        GIT_SUBMODULES
+        PREFIX "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/bladerf"
+        CMAKE_ARGS ${DEFAULT_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY}
+        SOURCE_SUBDIR host/
+        INSTALL_COMMAND ""
+        TEST_COMMAND ""
+    )
+    set(LIBBLADERF_FOUND ON CACHE INTERNAL "")
+    set(LIBBLADERF_INCLUDE_DIRS "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/bladerf/src/bladerf/host/libraries/libbladeRF/include" CACHE INTERNAL "")
+    set(LIBBLADERF_LIBRARIES "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/lib/libbladeRF.so" CACHE INTERNAL "")
 endif()
 
 # already on the respository
@@ -249,15 +267,6 @@ ExternalProject_Add(rtlsdr
     PREFIX "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/rtlsdr"
     CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${EXTERNAL_INSTALL_LIBRARIES}
 )
-# apt install libbladerf-dev
-# needs pkgconfig and libusb
-ExternalProject_Add(bladerf
-    GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/Nuand/bladeRF.git
-    GIT_TAG 1da130cb5ac9e9f722737e9aee141ecccebef00d
-    GIT_SUBMODULES
-    PREFIX "${EXTERNAL_BUILD_LIBRARIES}/bladerf"
-    CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${EXTERNAL_INSTALL_LIBRARIES}
-)
 # apt install libmirisdr-dev
 # needs pkgconfig and libusb
 ExternalProject_Add(mirisdr
diff --git a/plugins/samplesink/bladerf1output/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/samplesink/bladerf1output/CMakeLists.txt
index eecebcc13..651970748 100644
--- a/plugins/samplesink/bladerf1output/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/samplesink/bladerf1output/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ add_library(${TARGET_NAME} SHARED
 	${bladerf1output_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(${TARGET_NAME} bladerf)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
         Qt5::Core
         ${TARGET_LIB}
diff --git a/plugins/samplesink/bladerf2output/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/samplesink/bladerf2output/CMakeLists.txt
index fb2e74156..79a5cd98a 100644
--- a/plugins/samplesink/bladerf2output/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/samplesink/bladerf2output/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ add_library(${TARGET_NAME} SHARED
 	${bladerf2output_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(${TARGET_NAME} bladerf)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
         Qt5::Core
         ${TARGET_LIB}
diff --git a/plugins/samplesource/bladerf1input/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/samplesource/bladerf1input/CMakeLists.txt
index 85e68acd1..445a9e7ba 100644
--- a/plugins/samplesource/bladerf1input/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/samplesource/bladerf1input/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ add_library(${TARGET_NAME} SHARED
 	${bladerf1input_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(${TARGET_NAME} bladerf)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
         Qt5::Core
         ${TARGET_LIB}
diff --git a/plugins/samplesource/bladerf2input/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/samplesource/bladerf2input/CMakeLists.txt
index e522c2936..05ee4738e 100644
--- a/plugins/samplesource/bladerf2input/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/samplesource/bladerf2input/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ add_library(${TARGET_NAME} SHARED
 	${bladerf2input_SOURCES}
 )
 
+if(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_LIBRARIES)
+    add_dependencies(${TARGET_NAME} bladerf)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET_NAME}
         Qt5::Core
         ${TARGET_LIB}