diff --git a/src/julia/core.py b/src/julia/core.py
index 183298c4..1a67873e 100644
--- a/src/julia/core.py
+++ b/src/julia/core.py
@@ -482,11 +482,19 @@ def __init__(self, init_julia=True, jl_init_path=None, runtime=None,
             logger.debug("use_custom_sysimage = %r", use_custom_sysimage)
             logger.debug("compiled_modules = %r", options.compiled_modules)
             if not (
-                options.compiled_modules == "no"
-                or is_compatible_python
+                is_compatible_python
                 or use_custom_sysimage
             ):
-                raise UnsupportedPythonError(jlinfo)
+                if options.compiled_modules in (True, "yes"):
+                    raise UnsupportedPythonError(jlinfo)
+                elif options.compiled_modules in (False, "no"):
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    warnings.warn(
+                            "Statically linked Python interpreter detected, setting `compiled_modules=False` automatically."
+                            )
+                    options.compiled_modules = "no"
+
 
             self.api.init_julia(options)
 
diff --git a/src/julia/options.py b/src/julia/options.py
index 00ba9801..ae033150 100644
--- a/src/julia/options.py
+++ b/src/julia/options.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def yes_no_etc(*etc):
 compile: {True, False, 'yes', 'no', 'all', 'min'}
     Enable or disable JIT compiler, or request exhaustive compilation.
 
-compiled_modules: {True, False, 'yes', 'no'}
+compiled_modules: {True, False, 'yes', 'no', 'auto'}
     Enable or disable incremental precompilation of modules.
 
 depwarn: {True, False, 'yes', 'no', 'error'}
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class JuliaOptions(object):
 
     sysimage = String("sysimage")
     bindir = String("bindir")
-    compiled_modules = Choices("compiled_modules", yes_no_etc())
+    compiled_modules = Choices("compiled_modules", yes_no_etc("auto"))
     compile = Choices("compile", yes_no_etc("all", "min"))
     depwarn = Choices("depwarn", yes_no_etc("error"))
     warn_overwrite = Choices("warn_overwrite", yes_no_etc())