diff --git a/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
index 7c93a19717d..ed01d0d7bbb 100644
--- a/lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 add_subdirectory(crc)
-add_subdirectory_ifdef(CONFIG_JSON_LIBRARY json)
+add_subdirectory_ifdef(CONFIG_JSON_LIBRARY          json)
+if(NOT CONFIG_NATIVE_APPLICATION)
 add_subdirectory(libc)
+endif()
 add_subdirectory_if_kconfig(ring_buffer)
diff --git a/lib/libc/Kconfig b/lib/libc/Kconfig
index ddb6662b15b..df7253070a1 100644
--- a/lib/libc/Kconfig
+++ b/lib/libc/Kconfig
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #
 
 menu "C Library"
+depends on !NATIVE_APPLICATION
 
 config NEWLIB_LIBC
 	bool
diff --git a/misc/Kconfig b/misc/Kconfig
index 51a8a4eef06..37cd3e47c5d 100644
--- a/misc/Kconfig
+++ b/misc/Kconfig
@@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ config CROSS_COMPILE
 	  need to set this unless you want the configured kernel build
 	  directory to select the cross-compiler automatically.
 
+config NATIVE_APPLICATION
+	bool "Build as a native host application"
+	default n
+	help
+	  Build as a native application that can run on the host and using
+	  resources and libraries provided by the host.
+
 config COMPILER_OPT
 	string
 	prompt "Custom compiler options"