diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 888715414..11fdef620 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ tr_auto_option(ENABLE_MAC           "Build Mac client" AUTO)
         option(ENABLE_NLS           "Enable native language support" ON)
         option(INSTALL_DOC          "Build/install documentation" ON)
         option(INSTALL_LIB          "Install the library" OFF)
+tr_auto_option(RUN_CLANG_TIDY       "Run clang-tidy on the code" AUTO)
 tr_auto_option(USE_SYSTEM_EVENT2    "Use system event2 library" AUTO)
 tr_auto_option(USE_SYSTEM_DHT       "Use system dht library" AUTO)
 tr_auto_option(USE_SYSTEM_MINIUPNPC "Use system miniupnpc library" AUTO)
@@ -613,7 +614,17 @@ else()
     endif()
 endif()
 
-if(NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.7.2")
+if(RUN_CLANG_TIDY STREQUAL "AUTO")
+    if (DEFINED ENV{LGTM_SRC} OR DEFINED ENV{APPVEYOR}) # skip clang-tidy on LGTM/appveyor
+        set(RUN_CLANG_TIDY OFF)
+    elseif(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.7.2")
+        set(RUN_CLANG_TIDY OFF)
+    else()
+        set(RUN_CLANG_TIDY ON)
+    endif()
+endif()
+
+if(RUN_CLANG_TIDY)
     message(STATUS "Looking for clang-tidy")
     find_program(CLANG_TIDY clang-tidy)
     if (CLANG_TIDY STREQUAL "CLANG_TIDY-NOTFOUND")