diff --git a/external/CMakeLists.txt b/external/CMakeLists.txt
index 2f9165b..d9af92a 100644
--- a/external/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/external/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ endmacro()
 
 add_checked_subdirectory(angle)
 add_checked_subdirectory(auto_updates)
+add_checked_subdirectory(boost)
 if (add_cld3_library)
     add_checked_subdirectory(cld3)
 endif()
diff --git a/external/boost/CMakeLists.txt b/external/boost/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0462285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/external/boost/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# This file is part of Desktop App Toolkit,
+# a set of libraries for developing nice desktop applications.
+#
+# For license and copyright information please follow this link:
+# https://github.com/desktop-app/legal/blob/master/LEGAL
+
+add_library(external_boost_regex INTERFACE IMPORTED GLOBAL)
+add_library(desktop-app::external_boost_regex ALIAS external_boost_regex)
+
+if (DESKTOP_APP_USE_PACKAGED OR LINUX)
+    find_package(Boost COMPONENTS regex REQUIRED)
+    target_link_libraries(external_boost_regex INTERFACE Boost::regex)
+    return()
+endif()
+
+target_include_directories(external_boost_regex SYSTEM
+INTERFACE
+    ${libs_loc}/regex/include
+)