diff --git a/Classes/BWGlobal.h b/Classes/BWGlobal.h
index f04bc5a4ea..2982c50453 100644
--- a/Classes/BWGlobal.h
+++ b/Classes/BWGlobal.h
@@ -55,9 +55,15 @@ NSString *BWmd5(NSString *str);
 
 #define BWHockeyLocalize(StringToken) NSLocalizedStringFromTableInBundle(StringToken, @"Hockey", hockeyBundle(), @"")
 
-
 // compatibility helper
+#ifdef HOCKEYLIB_STATIC_LIBRARY
+// If HockeyLib is built as a static library and linked into the project
+// we can't use this project's deployment target to statically decide if
+// native JSON is available
+#define BW_NATIVE_JSON_AVAILABLE 0
+#else
 #define BW_NATIVE_JSON_AVAILABLE __IPHONE_OS_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED >= 50000
+#endif
 
 #ifndef kCFCoreFoundationVersionNumber_iPhoneOS_3_2
 #define kCFCoreFoundationVersionNumber_iPhoneOS_3_2 478.61