diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 4cb2eb9828e..07adea5768b 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 [submodule "vst3sdk"]
 	path = vst3sdk
 	url = https://github.com/steinbergmedia/vst3sdk.git
-[submodule "vst24sdk"]
-	path = vst24sdk
-	url = https://github.com/R-Tur/VST_SDK_2.4
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 819c81beca2..982716ae642 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Development Discussion at KVR-Forum [here](https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewto
 
 ## Preparation
 
-First you need to grab all git submodules (needed to get the VST SDKs)
+First you need to grab all git submodules (needed to get the VST3 SDK)
 
 ```
 git submodule update --init --recursive
@@ -78,3 +78,7 @@ Now, boot up Xcode and open the project. Let it do the indexing/processing.
 Choose `Update to recommended settings" for `surge-au`, `surge-vst2` and `surge-vst3`. Click on `Perform Changes`.
 
 After which "Here there be dragons" - Please, could anyone take this further?
+
+## Building - VST2
+
+If you want to build VST2 versions of the plug-in, set the environment variable VST24SDK to the location of the SDK prior to building.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/premake5.lua b/premake5.lua
index af12f8f5639..9d2dfcfca5e 100644
--- a/premake5.lua
+++ b/premake5.lua
@@ -286,60 +286,65 @@ end
 
 -- VST2 PLUGIN --
 
-project "surge-vst2"
-kind "SharedLib"
-uuid "007990D5-2B46-481D-B38C-D83037CDF54B"
+local VST24SDK = os.getenv("VST2SDK_DIR")
 
-defines 
-{
-	"TARGET_VST2=1",
-}
+if VST24SDK then
 
-plugincommon()
+    project "surge-vst2"
+    kind "SharedLib"
+    uuid "007990D5-2B46-481D-B38C-D83037CDF54B"
 
-files {
-    "src/vst2/**.cpp",
-    "src/vst2/**.h",
-    "vst24sdk/public.sdk/source/vst2.x/**.cpp",
-    "vst3sdk/public.sdk/source/vst2.x/**.cpp",
-    VSTGUI .. "plugin-bindings/aeffguieditor.cpp",
+    defines
+    {
+        "TARGET_VST2=1",
     }
 
-excludes {
-    VSTGUI .. "plugguieditor.cpp",
-}
+    plugincommon()
 
-includedirs {
-   "src/vst2",
-   "vst24sdk",
-   "vst3sdk"
-}
+    files {
+        "src/vst2/**.cpp",
+        "src/vst2/**.h",
+        VST24SDK .. "/public.sdk/source/vst2.x/**.cpp",
+        "vst3sdk/public.sdk/source/vst2.x/**.cpp",
+        VSTGUI .. "plugin-bindings/aeffguieditor.cpp",
+        }
 
-configuration { "Debug" }
-targetdir "target/vst2/Debug"
-targetsuffix "-Debug"
+    excludes {
+        VSTGUI .. "plugguieditor.cpp",
+    }
 
-configuration { "Release" }
-targetdir "target/vst2/Release"
+    includedirs {
+       "src/vst2",
+       VST24SDK,
+       "vst3sdk"
+    }
 
-configuration {}
+    configuration { "Debug" }
+    targetdir "target/vst2/Debug"
+    targetsuffix "-Debug"
 
+    configuration { "Release" }
+    targetdir "target/vst2/Release"
 
-if (os.istarget("macosx")) then
+    configuration {}
 
-    targetname "Surge"
-    targetprefix ""
-    postbuildcommands { "./package-vst.sh" }
-    
-    files
-    {
-        "libs/vst/*.mm"
-    }
-	
-elseif (os.istarget("windows")) then
 
-    linkoptions { "/DEF:resources\\windows-vst2\\surge.def" }
+    if (os.istarget("macosx")) then
+
+        targetname "Surge"
+        targetprefix ""
+        postbuildcommands { "./package-vst.sh" }
+
+        files
+        {
+            "libs/vst/*.mm"
+        }
+
+    elseif (os.istarget("windows")) then
+
+        linkoptions { "/DEF:resources\\windows-vst2\\surge.def" }
 
+    end
 end
 
 -- VST3 PLUGIN --
diff --git a/vst24sdk b/vst24sdk
deleted file mode 160000
index 4610873fa43..00000000000
--- a/vst24sdk
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Subproject commit 4610873fa433d263a5c4a68b5b8b59ffcf6ca6db