diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 565e626d..da14b7ea 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ set(PROJECT_VERSION ${GIT_VERSION})
 include(cmake/variables.cmake)
 
 set(tlsuv_DIR "" CACHE FILEPATH "developer option: use local tlsuv checkout")
+set(tlsuv_VERSION "v0.40.6" CACHE STRING "developer option: tlsuv branch or tag to use (if tlsuv_DIR is unset)")
 
 message("project version: ${PROJECT_VERSION}")
 message("git info:")
diff --git a/deps/CMakeLists.txt b/deps/CMakeLists.txt
index a6d6ca51..3ef7c52b 100644
--- a/deps/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/deps/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ if (NOT TARGET tlsuv)
     else ()
         FetchContent_Declare(tlsuv
                 GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/openziti/tlsuv.git
-                GIT_TAG v0.40.6
+                GIT_TAG ${tlsuv_VERSION}
         )
         FetchContent_MakeAvailable(tlsuv)
     endif (tlsuv_DIR)