diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a5c61bb32..19706e5df 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_QT5),true)
 3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/theme.qt5.a
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
 3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_audio_basics.a
@@ -90,8 +94,6 @@ ifeq ($(USING_RTAUDIO),true)
 3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/rtmidi.a
 endif
 
-3RD_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
-
 ALL_LIBS += $(3RD_LIBS)
 
 3rd: $(3RD_LIBS)
diff --git a/source/Makefile.deps.mk b/source/Makefile.deps.mk
index 5f273607c..0c6d3f76c 100644
--- a/source/Makefile.deps.mk
+++ b/source/Makefile.deps.mk
@@ -192,6 +192,9 @@ ifeq ($(WASM),true)
 HAVE_DGL = false
 endif
 
+# NOTE opt-out rather than opt-in
+HAVE_YSFX = true
+
 # NOTE not yet implemented, disabled for now
 HAVE_YSFXGUI = false
 
@@ -636,7 +639,7 @@ WATER_LIBS       = -ldl -pthread -lrt
 else ifeq ($(MACOS),true)
 
 HYLIA_FLAGS      = -DLINK_PLATFORM_MACOSX=1
-HYLIA_LIBS       = 
+HYLIA_LIBS       =
 JACKBRIDGE_LIBS  = -ldl -pthread
 LILV_LIBS        = -ldl -lm
 RTMEMPOOL_LIBS   = -pthread
diff --git a/source/Makefile.mk b/source/Makefile.mk
index 3f45dd365..417e8fcfd 100644
--- a/source/Makefile.mk
+++ b/source/Makefile.mk
@@ -233,6 +233,10 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_X11),true)
 BASE_FLAGS += -DHAVE_X11
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+BASE_FLAGS += -DHAVE_YSFX
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 BASE_FLAGS += -DUSING_JUCE
 BASE_FLAGS += -DJUCE_APP_CONFIG_HEADER='"AppConfig.h"'
diff --git a/source/backend/Makefile b/source/backend/Makefile
index 8c14c7910..03c89570f 100644
--- a/source/backend/Makefile
+++ b/source/backend/Makefile
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_HYLIA),true)
 STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/hylia.a
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
 STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_audio_basics.a
@@ -70,8 +74,6 @@ STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/rtaudio.a
 STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/rtmidi.a
 endif
 
-STANDALONE_LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS  = $(HYLIA_LIBS)
@@ -87,6 +89,10 @@ STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(FLUIDSYNTH_LIBS)
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(SDL_LIBS)
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(X11_LIBS)
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(JUCE_AUDIO_BASICS_LIBS)
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE_AUDIO_DEVICES),true)
@@ -106,8 +112,6 @@ STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(RTAUDIO_LIBS)
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(RTMIDI_LIBS)
 endif
 
-STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
-
 ifeq ($(JACKBRIDGE_DIRECT),true)
 STANDALONE_LINK_FLAGS += $(JACK_LIBS)
 endif
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginJSFX.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginJSFX.cpp
index b4f991801..3db5a1638 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginJSFX.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginJSFX.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Carla JSFX Plugin
- * Copyright (C) 2021 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2023 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 
 #include "CarlaPluginInternal.hpp"
 #include "CarlaEngine.hpp"
+
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
+
 #include "CarlaJsfxUtils.hpp"
 #include "CarlaBackendUtils.hpp"
 #include "CarlaUtils.hpp"
@@ -1067,6 +1070,12 @@ private:
     CARLA_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR(CarlaPluginJSFX)
 };
 
+CARLA_BACKEND_END_NAMESPACE
+
+#endif // HAVE_YSFX
+
+CARLA_BACKEND_START_NAMESPACE
+
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 CarlaPluginPtr CarlaPlugin::newJSFX(const Initializer& init)
@@ -1074,12 +1083,17 @@ CarlaPluginPtr CarlaPlugin::newJSFX(const Initializer& init)
     carla_debug("CarlaPlugin::newJSFX({%p, \"%s\", \"%s\", \"%s\", " P_INT64 "})",
                 init.engine, init.filename, init.name, init.label, init.uniqueId);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
     std::shared_ptr<CarlaPluginJSFX> plugin(new CarlaPluginJSFX(init.engine, init.id));
 
     if (! plugin->initJSFX(plugin, init.filename, init.name, init.label, init.options))
         return nullptr;
 
     return plugin;
+#else
+    init.engine->setLastError("JSFX support not available");
+    return nullptr;
+#endif
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/source/backend/utils/CachedPlugins.cpp b/source/backend/utils/CachedPlugins.cpp
index 266e56c6f..41a08ad14 100644
--- a/source/backend/utils/CachedPlugins.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/utils/CachedPlugins.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ static void findSFZs(const char* const sfzPaths)
 }
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
 static std::vector<CB::CarlaJsfxUnit> gJSFXs;
 
 static void findJSFXs(const char* const jsfxPaths)
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ static void findJSFXs(const char* const jsfxPaths)
         }
     }
 }
+#endif
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -665,6 +667,7 @@ static const CarlaCachedPluginInfo* get_cached_plugin_sfz(const water::File& fil
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
 static const CarlaCachedPluginInfo* get_cached_plugin_jsfx(const CB::CarlaJsfxUnit& unit)
 {
     static CarlaCachedPluginInfo info;
@@ -737,6 +740,7 @@ static const CarlaCachedPluginInfo* get_cached_plugin_jsfx(const CB::CarlaJsfxUn
 
     return &info;
 }
+#endif
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -771,10 +775,12 @@ uint carla_get_cached_plugin_count(CB::PluginType ptype, const char* pluginPath)
         return static_cast<uint>(gSFZs.size());
     }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
     case CB::PLUGIN_JSFX: {
         findJSFXs(pluginPath);
         return static_cast<uint>(gJSFXs.size());
     }
+#endif
 
     default:
         return 0;
@@ -821,10 +827,12 @@ const CarlaCachedPluginInfo* carla_get_cached_plugin_info(CB::PluginType ptype,
         return get_cached_plugin_sfz(gSFZs[index]);
     }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
     case CB::PLUGIN_JSFX: {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_BREAK(index < static_cast<uint>(gJSFXs.size()));
         return get_cached_plugin_jsfx(gJSFXs[index]);
     }
+#endif
 
     default:
         break;
diff --git a/source/backend/utils/Information.cpp b/source/backend/utils/Information.cpp
index 908932d8b..bbcfac5f4 100644
--- a/source/backend/utils/Information.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/utils/Information.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Carla Plugin Host
- * Copyright (C) 2011-2022 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2011-2023 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ const char* carla_get_complete_license_text()
 #if defined(USING_JUCE) && JUCE_PLUGINHOST_AU
         "<li>AU plugin support (using JUCE)</li>"
 #endif
-
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
         "<li>JSFX plugin support (using ysfx)</li>"
+#endif
 
         // Sample kit libraries
 #if defined(HAVE_FLUIDSYNTH) && !defined(BUILD_BRIDGE_ALTERNATIVE_ARCH)
@@ -190,8 +191,10 @@ const char* const* carla_get_supported_file_extensions()
         // SFZ
         "sfz",
 
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
         // JSFX
         "jsfx",
+#endif
 
         // terminator
         nullptr
@@ -223,6 +226,9 @@ const char* const* carla_get_supported_features()
 #ifdef HAVE_PYQT
         "gui",
 #endif
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
+        "jsfx",
+#endif
 #ifdef USING_JUCE
         "juce",
 # if defined(CARLA_OS_MAC)
diff --git a/source/backend/utils/Makefile b/source/backend/utils/Makefile
index 238274bf0..5cb2fc26b 100644
--- a/source/backend/utils/Makefile
+++ b/source/backend/utils/Makefile
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ TARGETS = $(BINDIR)/libcarla_utils$(LIB_EXT)
 
 LIBS  = $(MODULEDIR)/lilv.a
 LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/water.files.a
+
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
 LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+endif
 
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
@@ -44,12 +47,15 @@ endif
 
 LINK_FLAGS += $(LILV_LIBS)
 LINK_FLAGS += $(WATER_LIBS)
-LINK_FLAGS += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
 
 ifeq ($(HAVE_X11),true)
 LINK_FLAGS += $(X11_LIBS)
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+LINK_FLAGS += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
+endif
+
 ifneq ($(HAIKU),true)
 ifneq ($(WASM),true)
 LINK_FLAGS += -pthread
diff --git a/source/bridges-plugin/Makefile b/source/bridges-plugin/Makefile
index 034015520..74dff77d6 100644
--- a/source/bridges-plugin/Makefile
+++ b/source/bridges-plugin/Makefile
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ LIBS_win32   += $(MODULEDIR)/water.win32.a
 LIBS_win64   += $(MODULEDIR)/water.win64.a
 LINK_FLAGS   += $(WATER_LIBS)
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+LIBS_native += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+LINK_FLAGS  += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 LIBS_native  += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
 LIBS_posix32 += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.posix32.a
@@ -157,9 +162,6 @@ LIBS_win64   += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_gui_extra.win64.a
 LINK_FLAGS   += $(JUCE_GUI_EXTRA_LIBS)
 endif
 
-LIBS_native += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
-LINK_FLAGS  += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
-
 ifeq ($(JACKBRIDGE_DIRECT),true)
 LINK_FLAGS += $(JACK_LIBS)
 endif
diff --git a/source/discovery/Makefile b/source/discovery/Makefile
index 5590d2152..9902b1711 100644
--- a/source/discovery/Makefile
+++ b/source/discovery/Makefile
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ NATIVE_BUILD_FLAGS += $(FLUIDSYNTH_FLAGS)
 NATIVE_LINK_FLAGS  += $(FLUIDSYNTH_LIBS)
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
 NATIVE_BUILD_FLAGS += $(YSFX_FLAGS)
+endif
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -84,6 +86,11 @@ LIBS_win64    = $(MODULEDIR)/water.win64.a
 LINK_FLAGS   += $(WATER_LIBS)
 LINK_FLAGS   += $(LIBDL_LIBS)
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+LIBS_native  += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+LINK_FLAGS   += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 LIBS_native  += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
 LIBS_posix32 += $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.posix32.a
@@ -148,9 +155,6 @@ LIBS_win64   += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_gui_extra.win64.a
 LINK_FLAGS   += $(JUCE_GUI_EXTRA_LIBS)
 endif # USING_JUCE
 
-LIBS_native  += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
-LINK_FLAGS   += $(YSFX_GRAPHICS_LIBS)
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 OBJS_native  = $(OBJDIR)/$(MODULENAME).cpp.o
diff --git a/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp b/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
index e730a5b41..569d6805f 100644
--- a/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
+++ b/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Carla Plugin discovery
- * Copyright (C) 2011-2022 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2011-2023 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 
 #ifdef BUILD_BRIDGE
 # undef HAVE_FLUIDSYNTH
+# undef HAVE_YSFX
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_FLUIDSYNTH
@@ -2373,9 +2374,9 @@ static void do_fluidsynth_check(const char* const filename, const PluginType typ
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
 static void do_jsfx_check(const char* const filename, bool doInit)
 {
+#ifdef HAVE_YSFX
     const water::File file(filename);
 
     ysfx_config_u config(ysfx_config_new());
@@ -2429,8 +2430,15 @@ static void do_jsfx_check(const char* const filename, bool doInit)
     DISCOVERY_OUT("midi.outs", midiOuts);
     DISCOVERY_OUT("parameters.ins", parameters);
     DISCOVERY_OUT("end", "------------");
-}
+#else // HAVE_YSFX
+    DISCOVERY_OUT("error", "JSFX support not available");
+    return;
+
+    // unused
+    (void)filename;
+    (void)doInit;
 #endif
+}
 
 // ------------------------------ main entry point ------------------------------
 
diff --git a/source/plugin/Makefile b/source/plugin/Makefile
index 977a6aba5..8aba8258e 100644
--- a/source/plugin/Makefile
+++ b/source/plugin/Makefile
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_FLUIDSYNTH),true)
 BUILD_CXX_FLAGS += $(FLUIDSYNTH_FLAGS)
 endif
 
-BUILD_CXX_FLAGS += $(YSFX_FLAGS)
-
 ifeq ($(HAVE_X11),true)
 BUILD_CXX_FLAGS += $(X11_FLAGS)
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+BUILD_CXX_FLAGS += $(YSFX_FLAGS)
+endif
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Libs
 
@@ -88,6 +90,10 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_HYLIA),true)
 LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/hylia.a
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(HAVE_YSFX),true)
+LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(USING_JUCE),true)
 LIBS_juce  = $(MODULEDIR)/carla_juce.a
 LIBS_juce += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_audio_basics.a
@@ -100,8 +106,6 @@ LIBS_juce += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_gui_basics.a
 LIBS_juce += $(MODULEDIR)/juce_gui_extra.a
 endif
 
-LIBS += $(MODULEDIR)/ysfx.a
-
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Link flags