diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/GPU.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/GPU.cmake
index fa1a493330..3b07246e80 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/GPU.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/GPU.cmake
@@ -145,7 +145,14 @@ if(GPU_API STREQUAL "CUDA")
   target_include_directories(nvc_get_devices PRIVATE ${CUDA_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
 elseif(GPU_API STREQUAL "OPENCL")
-  option(USE_STATIC_OPENCL_LOADER "Download and include a static OpenCL ICD loader" ON)
+  # the static OpenCL loader doesn't seem to work on macOS. use the system provided
+  # version by default instead (for as long as it will be available)
+  if("${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}" STREQUAL "Darwin")
+    set(_opencl_static_default OFF)
+  else()
+    set(_opencl_static_default ON)
+  endif()
+  option(USE_STATIC_OPENCL_LOADER "Download and include a static OpenCL ICD loader" ${_opencl_static_default})
   mark_as_advanced(USE_STATIC_OPENCL_LOADER)
   if (USE_STATIC_OPENCL_LOADER)
     include(OpenCLLoader)