diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 27a0a14..6e542d3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,4 +11,9 @@ This is an Acquire Driver that exposes Hamamatsu cameras via the [DCAM-SDK][].
 
 - **Hamamatsu CP15440-20UP** Orca Fusion BT
 
+
+## Experimental Linux Support
+
+Early in 2024, Hammamatsu released the [DCAM-API Lite for Linux](https://www.hamamatsu.com/us/en/product/cameras/software/driver-software/dcam-api-lite-for-linux.html).  This contains only the dynamic libraries needed at runtime.  To build this module, one must still download the SDK (above) for the headers... but the (windows) libraries will be ignored. 
+
 [DCAM-SDK]: https://dcam-api.com/sdk-download/
diff --git a/cmake/hdcam.cmake b/cmake/hdcam.cmake
index ce9d88c..42d293b 100644
--- a/cmake/hdcam.cmake
+++ b/cmake/hdcam.cmake
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Locates the Hamamatus DCAM-SDK
+# Locates the Hamamatsu DCAM-SDK
 #
 # In general, if you install the SDK somewhere on your system environment's
 # PATH, cmake will be able to find it.
@@ -14,15 +14,20 @@ find_path(DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR
     NO_CACHE
 )
 
+
 if(DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR)
     message(STATUS "DCAM-SDK found: ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}")
 
-    set(tgt hdcam)
-    add_library(${tgt} STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
-    target_include_directories(${tgt} INTERFACE ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}/dcamsdk4/inc)
-    set_target_properties(${tgt} PROPERTIES
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}/dcamsdk4/lib/win64/dcamapi.lib
-    )
+    # only do the following if pulling libs from the SDK (windows only)
+    # for other platforms one must separately install the DCAM API
+    if (WIN32)
+        set(tgt hdcam)
+        add_library(${tgt} STATIC IMPORTED GLOBAL)
+        target_include_directories(${tgt} INTERFACE ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}/dcamsdk4/inc)
+        set_target_properties(${tgt} PROPERTIES
+            IMPORTED_LOCATION ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}/dcamsdk4/lib/win64/dcamapi.lib
+        )
+    endif()
 else()
-    message(STATUS "DCAM-SDK NOT FOUND")
+    message(FATAL_ERROR "DCAM-SDK NOT FOUND")
 endif()
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index ba73a0d..16b9ed8 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,12 +15,15 @@ if (TARGET hdcam)
             dcam.driver.c
             dcam.camera.h)
     target_link_libraries(${tgt}
-            hdcam
             acquire-core-platform
             acquire-core-logger
             acquire-device-kit
             acquire-device-hal
             )
+    if(WIN32)
+        message(STATUS "Linking static libs provided by SDK")
+        target_link_libraries(${tgt} hdcam)
+    endif()
 else ()
     add_library(${tgt} MODULE
             unsupported.driver.c
@@ -32,6 +35,8 @@ else ()
             )
 endif ()
 
+target_include_directories(${tgt} PRIVATE ${DCAMSDK_ROOT_DIR}/dcamsdk4/inc)
+
 target_enable_simd(${tgt})
 set_target_properties(${tgt} PROPERTIES
         MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>"