diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ee878dd..f67d655 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ option(AARE_IN_GITHUB_ACTIONS "Running in Github Actions" OFF)
 option(AARE_DOCS "Build documentation" OFF)
 option(AARE_VERBOSE "Verbose output" OFF)
 option(AARE_CUSTOM_ASSERT "Use custom assert" OFF)
+option(AARE_INSTALL_PYTHONEXT "Install the python extension in the install tree under CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX/aare/" OFF)
 
 
 # Configure which of the dependencies to use FetchContent for
diff --git a/python/CMakeLists.txt b/python/CMakeLists.txt
index ab746dd..89ad5e7 100644
--- a/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-find_package (Python 3.10 COMPONENTS Interpreter Development)
+find_package (Python 3.10 COMPONENTS Interpreter Development REQUIRED)
 
 # Download or find pybind11 depending on configuration
 if(AARE_FETCH_PYBIND11)
@@ -49,4 +49,11 @@ set_target_properties(_aare PROPERTIES
 configure_file(examples/play.py ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/play.py)
 
 
-install(TARGETS _aare DESTINATION aare)
\ No newline at end of file
+if(AARE_INSTALL_PYTHONEXT)
+    install(TARGETS _aare
+        EXPORT "${TARGETS_EXPORT_NAME}"
+        LIBRARY DESTINATION aare
+    )
+
+    install(FILES ${PYTHON_FILES} DESTINATION aare)
+endif()
\ No newline at end of file