diff --git a/lib/system.nim b/lib/system.nim
index 1d3be30752..b1ac043be4 100644
--- a/lib/system.nim
+++ b/lib/system.nim
@@ -4264,8 +4264,9 @@ proc `$`*(t: typedesc): string {.magic: "TypeTrait".} =
 import system/widestrs
 export widestrs
 
-import system/io
-export io
+when not defined(nimnoio):
+  import system/io
+  export io
 
 when not defined(createNimHcr):
   include nimhcr
diff --git a/lib/system/io.nim.cfg b/lib/system/io.nim.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fd7cc755ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/system/io.nim.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+--define: nimnoio