diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 077b42d3..203567c8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
-set(ZITI_SDK_C_BRANCH "0.17.4")
+if(NOT ZITI_SDK_C_BRANCH)
+    #allow using a different branch of the CSDK easily
+    set(ZITI_SDK_C_BRANCH "0.17.4")
+endif()
 
 execute_process(
         COMMAND git describe --tags --dirty=-local