diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 9abbb66a0..052bb3a13 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ pickle_store = [# Scons internal variables
         'PYTHON_INCLUDES',
         'PYTHON_INSTALL_LOCATION',
         'COLOR_PRINT',
+        'BOOST_SYSTEM_REQUIRED',
         ]
 
 # Add all other user configurable options to pickle pickle_store
@@ -571,8 +572,10 @@ if not preconfigured:
         boost_version_from_header = int(boost_lib_version_from_header.split('_')[1])
         if boost_version_from_header >= 35 and env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin':
             boost_system_required = True
+            env['BOOST_SYSTEM_REQUIRED'] = True
         else:
             boost_system_required = False
+            env['BOOST_SYSTEM_REQUIRED'] = False
     
     # The other required boost headers.
     BOOST_LIBSHEADERS = [
diff --git a/utils/shapeindex/SConscript b/utils/shapeindex/SConscript
index 93e287438..e5ed5f181 100644
--- a/utils/shapeindex/SConscript
+++ b/utils/shapeindex/SConscript
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ boost_iostreams  = 'boost_iostreams%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
 boost_filesystem = 'boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
 libraries =  [boost_program_options,boost_iostreams,boost_filesystem]
 
+if env['PLATFORM'] == 'Darwin' and env['BOOST_SYSTEM_REQUIRED']:
+    boost_system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
+    libraries.append(boost_system)
+
+
 shapeindex = env.Program('shapeindex', source, CPPPATH=headers, LIBS=libraries)
 
 env.Install(install_prefix + '/bin', shapeindex)