diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a249d42..1176c60 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ endif()
 # Set definitions and sources for MIPS.
 if(TARGET_ARCH MATCHES "mipsel*" OR
    TARGET_ARCH MATCHES "mips64el*")
-  set(PNG_MIPS_MSA_POSSIBLE_VALUES on off)
-  set(PNG_MIPS_MSA "on"
+  set(PNG_MIPS_MSA_POSSIBLE_VALUES on off check)
+  set(PNG_MIPS_MSA "check"
       CACHE STRING "Enable MIPS_MSA optimizations: on|off; on is default")
   set_property(CACHE PNG_MIPS_MSA
                PROPERTY STRINGS ${PNG_MIPS_MSA_POSSIBLE_VALUES})
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ if(TARGET_ARCH MATCHES "mipsel*" OR
         mips/filter_msa_intrinsics.c)
     if(${PNG_MIPS_MSA} STREQUAL "on")
       add_definitions(-DPNG_MIPS_MSA_OPT=2)
+    else()
+      add_definitions(-DPNG_MIPS_MSA_CHECK_SUPPORTED)
     endif()
   else()
     add_definitions(-DPNG_MIPS_MSA_OPT=0)