diff --git a/utils/python/codal_utils.py b/utils/python/codal_utils.py
index a215454..a01693b 100644
--- a/utils/python/codal_utils.py
+++ b/utils/python/codal_utils.py
@@ -1,21 +1,20 @@
 import os
 import sys
-import optparse
 import platform
 import json
 import shutil
 import re
 
-import os, re, json, xml.etree.ElementTree
-from optparse import OptionParser
-
 
 def system(cmd):
     if os.system(cmd) != 0:
       sys.exit(1)
 
 def build(clean, verbose = False):
-    if platform.system() == "Windows":
+    # Use Ninja on Windows, or if available in any other OS
+    use_ninja = shutil.which("ninja") is not None or platform.system() == "Windows"
+
+    if use_ninja:
         # configure
         system("cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -G \"Ninja\"")