diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 85f104fb..cfd21976 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -72,8 +72,7 @@ jobs:
           -DSFIZZ_SHARED=OFF \
           -DSFIZZ_STATIC_DEPENDENCIES=OFF \
           -DSFIZZ_LV2=ON \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 \
-          -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17
     - name: Build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
@@ -119,8 +118,7 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         mod-plugin-builder /usr/local/bin/cmake "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" \
          -DSFIZZ_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR=armv7-a \
-         -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DSFIZZ_JACK=OFF -DSFIZZ_VST=OFF -DSFIZZ_LV2_UI=OFF \
-         -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
+         -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DSFIZZ_JACK=OFF -DSFIZZ_VST=OFF -DSFIZZ_LV2_UI=OFF
     - name: Build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
@@ -189,8 +187,7 @@ jobs:
           -DSFIZZ_JACK=OFF \
           -DSFIZZ_VST=ON \
           -DSFIZZ_STATIC_DEPENDENCIES=ON \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 \
-          -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17
     - name: Build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
@@ -259,8 +256,7 @@ jobs:
           -DSFIZZ_JACK=OFF \
           -DSFIZZ_VST=ON \
           -DSFIZZ_STATIC_DEPENDENCIES=ON \
-          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 \
-          -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
+          -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17
     - name: Build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
diff --git a/cmake/SfizzDeps.cmake b/cmake/SfizzDeps.cmake
index dc39f499..664286c1 100644
--- a/cmake/SfizzDeps.cmake
+++ b/cmake/SfizzDeps.cmake
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ endif()
 if(SFIZZ_USE_SYSTEM_ABSEIL)
     find_package(absl REQUIRED)
 else()
-    add_subdirectory("external/abseil-cpp" EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+    function(sfizz_add_vendor_abseil)
+        set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF) # only changed at local scope
+        add_subdirectory("external/abseil-cpp" EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+    endfunction()
+    sfizz_add_vendor_abseil()
 endif()
 
 # The jsl utility library for C++
diff --git a/scripts/appveyor/before_build.cmd b/scripts/appveyor/before_build.cmd
index 8742946c..0b7804cd 100644
--- a/scripts/appveyor/before_build.cmd
+++ b/scripts/appveyor/before_build.cmd
@@ -11,6 +11,5 @@ cmake .. -G"Visual Studio 16 2019" -A"%RELEASE_ARCH%"^
  -DSFIZZ_LV2=ON^
  -DSFIZZ_VST=ON^
  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release^
- -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF^
  -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=%VCPKG_TRIPLET%^
  -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:/Tools/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake
diff --git a/scripts/appveyor/before_build.sh b/scripts/appveyor/before_build.sh
index 48e2e70a..213ab8a3 100644
--- a/scripts/appveyor/before_build.sh
+++ b/scripts/appveyor/before_build.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
       -DSFIZZ_SHARED=OFF \
       -DSFIZZ_TESTS=ON \
       -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14 \
-      -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF \
       -DLV2PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR=/ \
       -DVSTPLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR=/ \
       -DAUPLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR=/ \