diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index eff883b68..21b46ba49 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -409,3 +409,13 @@ WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
 COMMENT "Generating API documentation with Doxygen" VERBATIM
 )
 endif()
+
+# prefix compilation with ccache by default if available and on clang or gcc
+if(${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} STREQUAL "Clang" OR ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} STREQUAL "GNU")
+  find_program(CCACHE_FOUND ccache)
+  if(CCACHE_FOUND)
+    set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE ccache)
+    set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_LINK ccache)
+    set(ENV{CCACHE_CPP2} "true")
+  endif()
+endif()