diff --git a/configure b/configure
index d622a6f0625a18..5695c6b45a9a7b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -409,6 +409,11 @@ parser.add_option('--enable-static',
     dest='enable_static',
     help='build as static library')
 
+parser.add_option('--no-target-type',
+     action='store_true',
+     dest='no_target_type',
+     help='do not compile and link node core')
+
 parser.add_option('--no-browser-globals',
     action='store_true',
     dest='no_browser_globals',
@@ -741,6 +746,9 @@ def configure_node(o):
     o['variables']['node_core_target_name'] = 'node_base'
     o['variables']['node_target_type'] = 'static_library'
 
+  if options.no_target_type:
+    o['variables']['node_target_type'] = 'none'
+
   if target_arch in ('x86', 'x64', 'ia32', 'x32'):
     o['variables']['node_enable_v8_vtunejit'] = b(options.enable_vtune_profiling)
   elif options.enable_vtune_profiling:
diff --git a/vcbuild.bat b/vcbuild.bat
index ee5b4c8a17df08..5b98181633f610 100644
--- a/vcbuild.bat
+++ b/vcbuild.bat
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ set noprojgen=
 set nobuild=
 set nosign=
 set nosnapshot=
+set notargettype=
 set test_args=
 set package=
 set msi=
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ if /i "%1"=="nosign"        set nosign=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="nosnapshot"    set nosnapshot=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="noetw"         set noetw=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="noperfctr"     set noperfctr=1&goto arg-ok
+if /i "%1"=="notargettype"  set notargettype=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="licensertf"    set licensertf=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="test"          set test_args=%test_args% addons doctool known_issues message parallel sequential -J&set jslint=1&set build_addons=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="test-ci"       set test_args=%test_args% %test_ci_args% -p tap --logfile test.tap addons doctool known_issues message sequential parallel&set build_addons=1&goto arg-ok