diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a3b4c678..daf3d53a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ifeq ($(PANDOC),)
 $(warning "pandoc does not appear available: manpage won't be buildable")
 endif
 
-XATTR_AVAILABLE = $(shell test ! -e /usr/include/attr/xattr.h; echo $$?)
+USE_XATTR = 1
 
 INTERNAL_FUSE = 1
 EXTERNAL_FUSE_MIN_REQ = 2.9.7
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ CFLAGS      = -g -Wall \
               $(FUSE_CFLAGS) \
               -DFUSE_USE_VERSION=29 \
               -MMD \
+	      -DUSE_XATTR=$(USE_XATTR) \
 	      -DUGID_USE_RWLOCK=$(UGID_USE_RWLOCK)
 
 PREFIX        = /usr/local
@@ -88,17 +89,12 @@ INSTALLBINDIR  = $(DESTDIR)$(BINDIR)
 INSTALLSBINDIR = $(DESTDIR)$(SBINDIR)
 INSTALLMAN1DIR = $(DESTDIR)$(MAN1DIR)
 
-ifeq ($(XATTR_AVAILABLE),0)
-$(warning "xattr not available: disabling")
-CFLAGS += -DWITHOUT_XATTR
-endif
-
 all: $(TARGET)
 
 help:
 	@echo "usage: make"
-	@echo "make XATTR_AVAILABLE=0 - to build program without xattrs functionality (auto discovered otherwise)"
-	@echo "make INTERNAL_FUSE=0   - to build program with external (system) libfuse rather than the bundled one ('-o threads=' option will be unavailable)"
+	@echo "make USE_XATTR=0      - build program without xattrs functionality"
+	@echo "make INTERNAL_FUSE=0  - to build program with external (system) libfuse rather than the bundled one ('-o threads=' option will be unavailable)"
 
 $(TARGET): version obj/obj-stamp $(FUSE_TARGET) $(OBJ)
 	$(CXX) $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $(OBJ) -o $@ $(FUSE_LIBS) -ldl -pthread -lrt
@@ -218,13 +214,13 @@ install-build-pkgs:
 ifeq ($(shell test -e /usr/bin/apt-get; echo $$?),0)
 	apt-get -qy update
 	apt-get -qy --no-install-suggests --no-install-recommends --force-yes \
-		install build-essential git g++ debhelper libattr1-dev python automake libtool lsb-release
+		install build-essential git g++ debhelper python automake libtool lsb-release
 else ifeq ($(shell test -e /usr/bin/dnf; echo $$?),0)
 	dnf -y update
-	dnf -y install git rpm-build libattr-devel gcc-c++ make which python automake libtool gettext-devel
+	dnf -y install git rpm-build gcc-c++ make which python automake libtool gettext-devel
 else ifeq ($(shell test -e /usr/bin/yum; echo $$?),0)
 	yum -y update
-	yum -y install git rpm-build libattr-devel gcc-c++ make which python automake libtool gettext-devel
+	yum -y install git rpm-build gcc-c++ make which python automake libtool gettext-devel
 endif
 
 unexport CFLAGS
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 86ef1f9e..7bad3838 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ $ sudo apt-get -y update
 $ sudo apt-get -y install git make
 $ cd mergerfs
 $ make install-build-pkgs
-$ # build-essential git g++ debhelper libattr1-dev python automake libtool lsb-release
+$ # build-essential git g++ debhelper python automake libtool lsb-release
 $ make deb
 $ sudo dpkg -i ../mergerfs_version_arch.deb
 ```
@@ -283,14 +283,14 @@ $ su -
 # dnf -y install git make
 # cd mergerfs
 # make install-build-pkgs
-# # rpm-build libattr-devel gcc-c++ which python automake libtool gettext-devel
+# # rpm-build gcc-c++ which python automake libtool gettext-devel
 # make rpm
 # rpm -i rpmbuild/RPMS/<arch>/mergerfs-<verion>.<arch>.rpm
 ```
 
 #### Generically
 
-Have git, g++, make, python, libattr1, automake, libtool installed.
+Have git, g++, make, python, automake, libtool installed.
 
 ```
 $ cd mergerfs
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ $ sudo make install
 
 **NOTE:** Configurable threading and thus `-o threads=num` option will be unavailable when built with system libfuse.
 
-Have git, g++, make, python, libattr1, pkg-config installed.
+Have git, g++, make, python, pkg-config installed.
 Also, install libfuse >= 2.9.7 (but not libfuse-3.x) and matching libfuse-dev (or libfuse-devel).
 
 ```
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index c6576844..33c2af62 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ Source: mergerfs
 Section: utils
 Priority: optional
 Maintainer: Antonio SJ Musumeci <trapexit@spawn.link>
-Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0),
- libattr1-dev
+Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0)
 Standards-Version: 3.9.4
 Homepage: http://github.com/trapexit/mergerfs
 
diff --git a/man/mergerfs.1 b/man/mergerfs.1
index 27a13511..181d44e2 100644
--- a/man/mergerfs.1
+++ b/man/mergerfs.1
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ $\ sudo\ apt\-get\ \-y\ update
 $\ sudo\ apt\-get\ \-y\ install\ git\ make
 $\ cd\ mergerfs
 $\ make\ install\-build\-pkgs
-$\ #\ build\-essential\ git\ g++\ debhelper\ libattr1\-dev\ python\ automake\ libtool\ lsb\-release
+$\ #\ build\-essential\ git\ g++\ debhelper\ python\ automake\ libtool\ lsb\-release
 $\ make\ deb
 $\ sudo\ dpkg\ \-i\ ../mergerfs_version_arch.deb
 \f[]
@@ -722,14 +722,14 @@ $\ su\ \-
 #\ dnf\ \-y\ install\ git\ make
 #\ cd\ mergerfs
 #\ make\ install\-build\-pkgs
-#\ #\ rpm\-build\ libattr\-devel\ gcc\-c++\ which\ python\ automake\ libtool\ gettext\-devel
+#\ #\ rpm\-build\ gcc\-c++\ which\ python\ automake\ libtool\ gettext\-devel
 #\ make\ rpm
 #\ rpm\ \-i\ rpmbuild/RPMS/<arch>/mergerfs\-<verion>.<arch>.rpm
 \f[]
 .fi
 .SS Generically
 .PP
-Have git, g++, make, python, libattr1, automake, libtool installed.
+Have git, g++, make, python, automake, libtool installed.
 .IP
 .nf
 \f[C]
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ $\ sudo\ make\ install
 \f[B]NOTE:\f[] Configurable threading and thus \f[C]\-o\ threads=num\f[]
 option will be unavailable when built with system libfuse.
 .PP
-Have git, g++, make, python, libattr1, pkg\-config installed.
+Have git, g++, make, python, pkg\-config installed.
 Also, install libfuse >= 2.9.7 (but not libfuse\-3.x) and matching
 libfuse\-dev (or libfuse\-devel).
 .IP
diff --git a/mergerfs.spec b/mergerfs.spec
index 55adfeca..58739784 100644
--- a/mergerfs.spec
+++ b/mergerfs.spec
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ URL:		https://github.com/trapexit/mergerfs
 Source:		mergerfs-%{version}.tar.gz
 
 BuildRequires:	gcc-c++
-BuildRequires:	libattr-devel
 # rpmbuild driven by the Makefile uses git to generate a version number
 BuildRequires:	git
 
diff --git a/src/fs_base_getxattr.hpp b/src/fs_base_getxattr.hpp
index ebc67cdf..edecc1f9 100644
--- a/src/fs_base_getxattr.hpp
+++ b/src/fs_base_getxattr.hpp
@@ -18,25 +18,78 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <sys/types.h>
-
 #include "errno.hpp"
 #include "xattr.hpp"
 
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+#include <string>
+
 namespace fs
 {
   static
   inline
   int
-  lgetxattr(const std::string &path,
-            const char        *attrname,
-            void              *value,
-            const size_t       size)
+  lgetxattr(const char   *path_,
+            const char   *attrname_,
+            void         *value_,
+            const size_t  size_)
+  {
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+    return ::lgetxattr(path_,attrname_,value_,size_);
+#else
+    return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
+#endif
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  lgetxattr(const std::string &path_,
+            const char        *attrname_,
+            void              *value_,
+            const size_t       size_)
+  {
+    return fs::lgetxattr(path_.c_str(),attrname_,value_,size_);
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  lgetxattr(const std::string &path_,
+            const std::string &attrname_,
+            void              *value_,
+            const size_t       size_)
+  {
+    return fs::lgetxattr(path_.c_str(),
+                         attrname_.c_str(),
+                         value_,
+                         size_);
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  fgetxattr(const int     fd_,
+            const char   *attrname_,
+            void         *value_,
+            const size_t  size_)
   {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
-    return ::lgetxattr(path.c_str(),attrname,value,size);
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+    return ::fgetxattr(fd_,attrname_,value_,size_);
 #else
     return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
 #endif
   }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  fgetxattr(const int          fd_,
+            const std::string &attrname_,
+            void              *value_,
+            const size_t       size_)
+  {
+    return fs::fgetxattr(fd_,attrname_.c_str(),value_,size_);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/fs_base_listxattr.hpp b/src/fs_base_listxattr.hpp
index 196dc703..766e4857 100644
--- a/src/fs_base_listxattr.hpp
+++ b/src/fs_base_listxattr.hpp
@@ -18,22 +18,48 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <sys/types.h>
-
 #include "errno.hpp"
 #include "xattr.hpp"
 
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+#include <string>
+
 namespace fs
 {
   static
   inline
   int
-  llistxattr(const std::string &path,
-             char              *list,
-             const size_t       size)
+  llistxattr(const char   *path_,
+             char         *list_,
+             const size_t  size_)
+  {
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+    return ::llistxattr(path_,list_,size_);
+#else
+    return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
+#endif
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  llistxattr(const std::string &path_,
+             char              *list_,
+             const size_t       size_)
+  {
+    return fs::llistxattr(path_.c_str(),list_,size_);
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  flistxattr(const int     fd_,
+             char         *list_,
+             const size_t  size_)
   {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
-    return ::llistxattr(path.c_str(),list,size);
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+    return ::flistxattr(fd_,list_,size_);
 #else
     return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/fs_base_removexattr.hpp b/src/fs_base_removexattr.hpp
index 39254229..08357d23 100644
--- a/src/fs_base_removexattr.hpp
+++ b/src/fs_base_removexattr.hpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace fs
   lremovexattr(const std::string &path,
                const char        *attrname)
   {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
     return ::lremovexattr(path.c_str(),attrname);
 #else
     return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
diff --git a/src/fs_base_setxattr.hpp b/src/fs_base_setxattr.hpp
index ebac9070..0a149bb2 100644
--- a/src/fs_base_setxattr.hpp
+++ b/src/fs_base_setxattr.hpp
@@ -34,10 +34,26 @@ namespace fs
             const size_t       size,
             const int          flags)
   {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
     return ::lsetxattr(path.c_str(),name,value,size,flags);
 #else
     return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
+#endif
+  }
+
+  static
+  inline
+  int
+  fsetxattr(const int     fd_,
+            const char   *name_,
+            const void   *value_,
+            const size_t  size_,
+            const int     flags_)
+  {
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+    return ::fsetxattr(fd_,name_,value_,size_,flags_);
+#else
+    return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
 #endif
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/fs_xattr.cpp b/src/fs_xattr.cpp
index acd8fb05..12a7cc53 100644
--- a/src/fs_xattr.cpp
+++ b/src/fs_xattr.cpp
@@ -14,22 +14,20 @@
   OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 */
 
-#include <fcntl.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-#include <sys/types.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
+#include "errno.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_close.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_getxattr.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_listxattr.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_open.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_removexattr.hpp"
+#include "fs_base_setxattr.hpp"
+#include "str.hpp"
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <map>
 #include <sstream>
 
-#include "errno.hpp"
-#include "fs_base_open.hpp"
-#include "fs_base_close.hpp"
-#include "str.hpp"
-#include "xattr.hpp"
 
 using std::string;
 using std::vector;
@@ -44,57 +42,49 @@ namespace fs
     list(const int     fd,
          vector<char> &attrs)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
       ssize_t rv;
 
       rv    = -1;
       errno = ERANGE;
       while((rv == -1) && (errno == ERANGE))
         {
-          rv = ::flistxattr(fd,NULL,0);
+          rv = fs::flistxattr(fd,NULL,0);
           if(rv <= 0)
             return rv;
 
           attrs.resize(rv);
 
-          rv = ::flistxattr(fd,&attrs[0],rv);
+          rv = fs::flistxattr(fd,&attrs[0],rv);
         }
 
       return rv;
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
     }
 
     int
     list(const string &path,
          vector<char> &attrs)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
       ssize_t rv;
 
       rv    = -1;
       errno = ERANGE;
       while((rv == -1) && (errno == ERANGE))
         {
-          rv = ::llistxattr(path.c_str(),NULL,0);
+          rv = fs::llistxattr(path,NULL,0);
           if(rv <= 0)
             return rv;
 
           attrs.resize(rv);
 
-          rv = ::llistxattr(path.c_str(),&attrs[0],rv);
+          rv = fs::llistxattr(path,&attrs[0],rv);
         }
 
       return rv;
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
     }
 
     int
     list(const int        fd,
-          vector<string> &attrvector)
+         vector<string> &attrvector)
     {
       int rv;
       vector<char> attrs;
@@ -159,26 +149,22 @@ namespace fs
         const string &attr,
         vector<char> &value)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
       ssize_t rv;
 
       rv    = -1;
       errno = ERANGE;
       while((rv == -1) && (errno == ERANGE))
         {
-          rv = ::fgetxattr(fd,attr.c_str(),NULL,0);
+          rv = fs::fgetxattr(fd,attr,NULL,0);
           if(rv <= 0)
             return rv;
 
           value.resize(rv);
 
-          rv = ::fgetxattr(fd,attr.c_str(),&value[0],rv);
+          rv = fs::fgetxattr(fd,attr,&value[0],rv);
         }
 
       return rv;
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
     }
 
     int
@@ -186,26 +172,22 @@ namespace fs
         const string &attr,
         vector<char> &value)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
       ssize_t rv;
 
       rv    = -1;
       errno = ERANGE;
       while((rv == -1) && (errno == ERANGE))
         {
-          rv = ::lgetxattr(path.c_str(),attr.c_str(),NULL,0);
+          rv = fs::lgetxattr(path,attr,NULL,0);
           if(rv <= 0)
             return rv;
 
           value.resize(rv);
 
-          rv = ::lgetxattr(path.c_str(),attr.c_str(),&value[0],rv);
+          rv = fs::lgetxattr(path,attr,&value[0],rv);
         }
 
       return rv;
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
     }
 
     int
@@ -300,15 +282,11 @@ namespace fs
         const string &value,
         const int     flags)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
-      return ::fsetxattr(fd,
-                         key.c_str(),
-                         value.data(),
-                         value.size(),
-                         flags);
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
+      return fs::fsetxattr(fd,
+                           key.c_str(),
+                           value.data(),
+                           value.size(),
+                           flags);
     }
 
     int
@@ -317,15 +295,11 @@ namespace fs
         const string &value,
         const int     flags)
     {
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
-      return ::lsetxattr(path.c_str(),
-                         key.c_str(),
-                         value.data(),
-                         value.size(),
-                         flags);
-#else
-      return (errno=ENOTSUP,-1);
-#endif
+      return fs::lsetxattr(path.c_str(),
+                           key.c_str(),
+                           value.data(),
+                           value.size(),
+                           flags);
     }
 
     int
diff --git a/src/xattr.hpp b/src/xattr.hpp
index 75635e8c..f4052975 100644
--- a/src/xattr.hpp
+++ b/src/xattr.hpp
@@ -16,8 +16,21 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#ifndef WITHOUT_XATTR
-#include <attr/xattr.h>
+#if defined(__ANDROID__)
+# include <sys/cdefs.h>
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+# include <TargetConditionals.h>
+#elif defined(__linux__)
+# include <features.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef USE_XATTR
+# ifdef __GLIBC__
+#  include <sys/xattr.h>
+# else
+#  undef USE_XATTR
+#  warning "USE_XATTR unset: xattrs disabled"
+# endif
 #endif
 
 #ifndef XATTR_CREATE