diff --git a/configure b/configure
index dbe7f243e16..401b370e923 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ parser.add_option("--without-npm",
     dest="without_npm",
     help="Don\'t install the bundled npm package manager")
 
+parser.add_option("--without-isolates",
+    action="store_true",
+    dest="without_isolates",
+    help="Build without isolates (no threads, single loop) [Default: False]")
+
 parser.add_option("--without-ssl",
     action="store_true",
     dest="without_ssl",
@@ -163,6 +168,7 @@ def target_arch():
 
 def configure_node(o):
   # TODO add gdb and dest_cpu
+  o['variables']['node_use_isolates'] = b(not options.without_isolates)
   o['variables']['node_debug'] = b(options.debug)
   o['variables']['node_prefix'] = options.prefix if options.prefix else ''
   o['variables']['node_use_dtrace'] = b(options.with_dtrace)
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index 0fff5b4e99a..9de34928344 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -130,6 +130,12 @@
       ],
 
       'conditions': [
+        [ 'node_use_isolates=="true"', {
+          'defines': [ 'HAVE_ISOLATES=1' ],
+        }, {
+          'defines': [ 'HAVE_ISOLATES=0' ],
+        }],
+
         [ 'node_use_openssl=="true"', {
           'defines': [ 'HAVE_OPENSSL=1' ],
           'sources': [ 'src/node_crypto.cc' ],