diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 176a76526..49101ae24 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ endif()
 option(OPENMP "Enable OpenMP Threading" OFF)
 option(ENABLE_MKL "Use MKL for LAPACK implementation (if available)" ON)
 option(BUILD_GSDCLOUD "Build GSD Cloud Analysis Library" OFF)
-option(BUILD_MGBF "Build MGBF Library" ON)
+option(BUILD_MGBF "Build MGBF Library" OFF)
 option(BUILD_GSI "Build GSI" ON)
 option(BUILD_ENKF "Build EnKF" ON)
 option(BUILD_REG_TESTING "Build the Regression Testing Suite" OFF)
diff --git a/src/gsi/CMakeLists.txt b/src/gsi/CMakeLists.txt
index db5aab3c8..f2261fc1b 100644
--- a/src/gsi/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/gsi/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ endif()
 option(OPENMP "Enable OpenMP Threading" OFF)
 option(ENABLE_MKL "Use MKL for LAPACK implementation (if available)" ON)
 option(USE_GSDCLOUD "Use GSD Cloud Analysis library" OFF)
-option(USE_MGBF "Use MGBF library" OFF)
+option(USE_MGBF "Use MGBF library" ${BUILD_MGBF})
 
 set(GSI_VALID_MODES "GFS" "Regional")
 set(GSI_MODE "GFS" CACHE STRING "Choose the GSI Application.")