diff --git a/mail/sa-utils/Makefile b/mail/sa-utils/Makefile
index e8cbc9b3942f..bd57453a1e39 100644
--- a/mail/sa-utils/Makefile
+++ b/mail/sa-utils/Makefile
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ DISTFILES=	# none
 MAINTAINER=	m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk
 COMMENT=	SpamAssassin nightly periodic maintenance
 
-RUN_DEPENDS=	sa-update:${PORTSDIR}/mail/p5-Mail-SpamAssassin \
-		re2c:${PORTSDIR}/devel/re2c
+RUN_DEPENDS=	sa-update:${PORTSDIR}/mail/p5-Mail-SpamAssassin
+
+OPTIONS=	SACOMPILE "Enable sa-compile support" off
 
 NO_BUILD=	yes
 SUB_FILES=	sa-utils
@@ -26,6 +27,15 @@ PERIODIC_DAILY=	etc/periodic/daily
 PLIST_FILES=	${PERIODIC_DAILY}/sa-utils
 PLIST_DIRS=	${PERIODIC_DAILY} ${PERIODIC_DAILY:H}
 
+.include <bsd.port.options.mk>
+
+.if defined(WITH_SACOMPILE)
+RUN_DEPENDS+=	re2c>=.12.0:${PORTSDIR}/devel/re2c
+SUB_LIST+=	SACOMPILE=YES
+.else
+SUB_LIST+=	SACOMPILE=NO
+.endif
+
 do-install:
 	${MKDIR} ${PREFIX}/${PERIODIC_DAILY}/
 	${INSTALL_SCRIPT} ${WRKDIR}/sa-utils \
diff --git a/mail/sa-utils/files/sa-utils.in b/mail/sa-utils/files/sa-utils.in
index 18e91576b7de..49472b92bffc 100644
--- a/mail/sa-utils/files/sa-utils.in
+++ b/mail/sa-utils/files/sa-utils.in
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 #                    --channel saupdates.example.com     \
 #                    --channel updates.spamassassin.org"  
 #
-# daily_sa_compile="YES"
+# daily_sa_compile="%%SACOMPILE%%"
 #           run sa-compile to create a compiled form of the filter
 #           rules when new rules are found.  Note: this can be time
 #           consuming and CPU intensive.
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fi
 : ${daily_sa_enable="YES"}
 : ${daily_sa_quiet="NO"}
 : ${daily_sa_update_flags=""}
-: ${daily_sa_compile="YES"}
+: ${daily_sa_compile="%%SACOMPILE%%"}
 : ${daily_sa_compile_flags=""}
 : ${daily_sa_compile_nice="YES"}
 : ${daily_sa_compile_nice_flags=""}