diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8c598c3e2fb47eb926b12d36fade362e363fd11d..176cdbad27f147e16965f0b553601c909ebf0c5b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_MODULE_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/MOD)
 set(VALGRIND_EXE "/usr/bin/valgrind" CACHE TYPE "Valgrind with its path")
 set(VALGRIND_ARGS "" CACHE TYPE "Valgrind arguments")
 mark_as_advanced(VALGRIND_EXE VALGRIND_ARGS)
+option(PAMPA_CTEST_MEMCHECK "Use valgrind memcheck explicitly during ctests" OFF)
+if(NOT PAMPA_CTEST_MEMCHECK)
+set(VALGRIND_EXE "" CACHE TYPE "Valgrind with its path" FORCE)
+set(VALGRIND_ARGS "" CACHE TYPE "Valgrind arguments" FORCE)
+endif()
 
 option(FORTRAN_INTERFACE "Build fortran interface to use PaMPA in fortran programs" OFF)
 if (FORTRAN_INTERFACE)