diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 40ccff595..f4298aedb 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -220,7 +220,17 @@ set(Launcher_FORCE_BUNDLED_LIBS OFF CACHE BOOL "Prevent using system libraries,
 set(Launcher_QT_VERSION_MAJOR "6" CACHE STRING "Major Qt version to build against")
 
 # Java downloader
-option(ENABLE_JAVA_DOWNLOADER "Build the java downloader feature" ON)
+set(ENABLE_JAVA_DOWNLOADER_DEFAULT ON)
+
+# Although we recommend enabling this, we cannot guarantee binary compatibility on 
+# differing Linux/BSD/etc distributions. Downstream packagers should be explicitly opt-ing into this
+# feature if they know it will work with their distribution.
+if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  set(ENABLE_JAVA_DOWNLOADER_DEFAULT OFF)
+endif()
+
+# Java downloader
+option(ENABLE_JAVA_DOWNLOADER "Build the java downloader feature" ${ENABLE_JAVA_DOWNLOADER_DEFAULT})
 
 # Native libraries
 if(UNIX AND APPLE)