diff --git a/install/linux/linux_build.sh b/install/linux/linux_build.sh
index 182d4f135..46b0000dd 100644
--- a/install/linux/linux_build.sh
+++ b/install/linux/linux_build.sh
@@ -28,5 +28,5 @@ echo "Build path is: " $BUILD_PATH
 SOURCE_PATH=$PWD/../../src
 
 cd $BUILD_PATH
-qmake $SOURCE_PATH/meshlab.pro "CONFIG+= system_eigen3 system_glew system_openctm system_lib3ds"
+qmake $SOURCE_PATH/meshlab.pro
 make -j4
diff --git a/install/linux/linux_build_meshlab_mini.sh b/install/linux/linux_build_meshlab_mini.sh
index 313c50b46..b251d7100 100644
--- a/install/linux/linux_build_meshlab_mini.sh
+++ b/install/linux/linux_build_meshlab_mini.sh
@@ -28,5 +28,5 @@ echo "Build path is: " $BUILD_PATH
 SOURCE_PATH=$PWD/../../src
 
 cd $BUILD_PATH
-qmake $SOURCE_PATH/meshlab.pro "CONFIG+=meshlab_mini system_eigen3 system_glew"
+qmake $SOURCE_PATH/meshlab.pro "CONFIG+=meshlab_mini"
 make -j4
diff --git a/src/find_system_libs.pri b/src/find_system_libs.pri
index 163557543..d09b226cf 100644
--- a/src/find_system_libs.pri
+++ b/src/find_system_libs.pri
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+# this pri file finds all the external libraries already installed in the system
+# that could be used instead of the ones placed in the external folder.
+
+# to avoid to use system libraries and to use only the ones in the external folder,
+# execute qmake with the following argument:
+# qmake "CONFIG+=disable_system_libs"
+!disable_system_libs {
+
 linux {
     #### static libs ####
 
@@ -12,6 +20,11 @@ linux {
         CONFIG += system_openctm
     }
 
+    #lib3ds
+    exists(/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/lib3ds.so){
+        CONFIG += system_lib3ds
+    }
+
 
     #### header only libs ####
     #eigen
@@ -24,3 +37,5 @@ linux {
         CONFIG += system_glew
     }
 }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/meshlab.pro b/src/meshlab.pro
index 5b167c84c..b9d0789f7 100644
--- a/src/meshlab.pro
+++ b/src/meshlab.pro
@@ -285,3 +285,24 @@ edit_select.depends = common
 
     QMAKE_EXTRA_TARGETS += first copydir
 }
+
+#
+# this is just for project info
+# prints all the system libraries that meshlab is using instead of
+# the ones placed in the external folder.
+# The libraris are included effectively in general.pri and
+# in external.pro
+#
+include(find_system_libs.pri)
+system_eigen3 {
+    message("Using system eigen3")
+}
+system_glew {
+    message("Using system glew")
+}
+system_openctm {
+    message("Using system openctm")
+}
+system_lib3ds {
+    message("Using system lib3ds")
+}