diff --git a/externals/Makefile b/externals/Makefile
index 60a27f0cd92abd3ac24885b287ef0afa02ff8fd3..0208fb7dc83a5875419d7a57dbe0e81d9772678a 100644
--- a/externals/Makefile
+++ b/externals/Makefile
@@ -145,8 +145,12 @@ else
       LIB_TARGETS += hid
     endif
   else
-    # GNU/Linux, BSD, IRIX, etc.
-    LIB_TARGETS += gem hid pdp gem2pdp iem16
+    # GNU/Linux, BSD, IRIX, etc. (we use exported variable INCREMENTAL to avoid rebuilding entire Gem lib that takes a long time to compile)
+    ifeq ($(INCREMENTAL),yes)
+    	LIB_TARGETS += hid pdp gem2pdp iem16
+    else
+    	LIB_TARGETS += gem hid pdp gem2pdp iem16
+    endif
   endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/l2ork_addons/tar_em_up.sh b/l2ork_addons/tar_em_up.sh
index 5d5cba0952ac18f3dd8e1ee23ca59496c0cd0eef..195da21a09574ecdf422e707977301a2f39279e6 100755
--- a/l2ork_addons/tar_em_up.sh
+++ b/l2ork_addons/tar_em_up.sh
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ then
 		rm Gem.pd_linux
 		aclocal
 		./autogen.sh
+		export INCREMENTAL=""
 	#elif [ $full -eq 3 ]
 	#then
 	#	echo "Since pd-l2ork relies on a unique version of cwiid library, we will need to install it to make disis_wiimote external work properly. YOU SHOULD REMOVE EXISTING CWIID LIBRARIES PRIOR TO RUNNING THIS INSTALL... No worries though, L2Ork version is fully backwards compatible while also offering unique features like full extension support including the passthrough mode. To install cwiid library go to <pd-l2ork-root-git-folder>/l2ork-addons/cwiid/ folder and install it using the usual:"
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ then
 	#	./autogen.sh
 	else
 		cd Gem/
+		export INCREMENTAL="yes"
 	fi
 	cd ../packages/linux_make
 	if [ $full -gt 1 -o $deb -eq 2 ]