diff --git a/mpy-cross/Makefile b/mpy-cross/Makefile
index 9962e9bcbb246..bd9e0fb1f54d4 100644
--- a/mpy-cross/Makefile
+++ b/mpy-cross/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ CFLAGS += -fdata-sections -ffunction-sections -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables
 # CIRCUITPY-CHANGE
 CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY
 
+# Build a static executable.
+# Useful for builds that must run on multiple operating system versions. Used for published mpy-cross versions.
+ifdef STATIC_BUILD
+CFLAGS += -static -static-libgcc -static-libstdc++
+endif
+
 # Debugging/Optimization
 ifdef DEBUG
 CFLAGS += -g
@@ -47,6 +53,10 @@ LDFLAGS_ARCH = -Wl,-Map=$@.map,--cref -Wl,--gc-sections
 endif
 LDFLAGS += $(LDFLAGS_MOD) $(LDFLAGS_ARCH) -lm $(LDFLAGS_EXTRA)
 
+ifdef STATIC_BUILD
+LDFLAGS += -static -static-libgcc -static-libstdc++
+endif
+
 # source files
 # CIRCUITPY-CHANGE: extra files
 SRC_C = \