--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -417,6 +417,24 @@
 
 GOBJECT_INTROSPECTION_CHECK([1.0])
 
+dnl ================== libsynctex ===========================================
+
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES(SYNCTEX, [synctex], has_synctex=yes, has_synctex=no)
+
+dnl not found? use internal code copy.
+if test "x$has_synctex" = "xno"; then
+	SYNCTEX_LIBS="\$(top_builddir)/cut-n-paste/synctex/libsynctex.la"
+	AC_SUBST(SYNCTEX_LIBS)
+
+	SYNCTEX_CFLAGS="-I\$(top_srcdir)/cut-n-paste/synctex"
+	AC_SUBST(SYNCTEX_CFLAGS)
+
+	SYNCTEX_CONFIG_FILES=cut-n-paste/synctex/Makefile
+else
+	SYNCTEX_CONFIG_FILES=""
+fi
+AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_BUNDLED_SYNCTEX, test x$has_synctex = xno)
+
 dnl ================== portability checks ===========================================
 
 dnl for backtrace()
@@ -716,7 +734,7 @@
 backend/xps/Makefile
 cut-n-paste/Makefile
 cut-n-paste/gimpcellrenderertoggle/Makefile
-cut-n-paste/synctex/Makefile
+$SYNCTEX_CONFIG_FILES
 data/evince.desktop.in
 data/evince-previewer.desktop.in
 data/Makefile
@@ -806,5 +824,6 @@
 DBUS communication .......:  $enable_dbus
 Keyring integration ......:  $with_keyring
 GTK+ Unix Print ..........:  $with_gtk_unix_print
+Use external SyncTeX .....:  $has_synctex
 
 ])
--- a/libdocument/Makefile.am
+++ b/libdocument/Makefile.am
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
 
 libevdocument3_la_CFLAGS = \
 	$(LIBDOCUMENT_CFLAGS)			\
-	-I$(top_srcdir)/cut-n-paste/synctex	\
+	$(SYNCTEX_CFLAGS)			\
 	$(AM_CFLAGS)
 
 libevdocument3_la_LDFLAGS = \
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
 	$(AM_LDFLAGS)
 
 libevdocument3_la_LIBADD = \
-	$(top_builddir)/cut-n-paste/synctex/libsynctex.la \
+	$(SYNCTEX_LIBS)		\
 	$(LIBDOCUMENT_LIBS)	\
 	$(ZLIB_LIBS)		\
 	$(LIBM)
--- a/cut-n-paste/Makefile.am
+++ b/cut-n-paste/Makefile.am
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
-SUBDIRS = gimpcellrenderertoggle synctex
+SUBDIRS = gimpcellrenderertoggle
+
+if ENABLE_BUNDLED_SYNCTEX
+SUBDIRS += synctex
+endif
 
 -include $(top_srcdir)/git.mk