diff --git a/karnaugh-map.dtx b/karnaugh-map.dtx
index 7c19d13..5137c22 100644
--- a/karnaugh-map.dtx
+++ b/karnaugh-map.dtx
@@ -244,11 +244,17 @@
 \DeclareStringOption[middle]{label}[middle]
 \DeclareStringOption[]{implicantcolors}[]
 \DeclareBoolOption[false]{linestyles}
+\DeclareBoolOption[false]{omittikzpicture}
 \ProcessKeyvalOptions*
 %% environment options
 \define@key{karnaugh-map}{label}[middle]{\renewcommand{\@karnaughmap@option@label}{#1}}
 \define@key{karnaugh-map}{implicantcolors}[]{\renewcommand{\@karnaughmap@option@implicantcolors}{#1}}
-\define@key{karnaugh-map}{linestyles}[false]{\@karnaughmap@option@linestylestrue}
+\define@key{karnaugh-map}{linestyles}[true]{%
+  \csname @karnaughmap@option@linestyles#1\endcsname
+}
+\define@key{karnaugh-map}{omittikzpicture}[true]{%
+  \csname @karnaughmap@option@omittikzpicture#1\endcsname
+}
 
 %% render in black and white or color default to '0'(false/color)
 \newcommand{\@karnaughmap@var@bw@}{0}
@@ -333,6 +339,14 @@
     % parse environment options
     \setkeys{karnaugh-map}{#1}%
     %
+    % check if the user wants us to omit begin/end{tikzpicture}
+    \if@karnaughmap@option@omittikzpicture
+      \begin{scope}
+    \else
+      % wrap in tikzpicture for the user
+      \begin{tikzpicture}
+    \fi
+    %
     % check if implicant colors are specified
     \IfStrEq{\@karnaughmap@option@implicantcolors}{}{}{%
       % ensure no empty colors are specified
@@ -366,9 +380,15 @@
     % to parse remaining arguments and finish initialization.
     \@karnaughmap@func@karnaughstart@%
 }{
-    \end{tikzpicture}
+    % end tikzpicture if the user did not want us to omit it
+    \if@karnaughmap@option@omittikzpicture
+      \end{scope}
+    \else
+      \end{tikzpicture}
+    \fi
   \endgroup
 }
+
 \DeclareDocumentCommand{\@karnaughmap@func@karnaughstart@}{oooooo} {%
   % parse label args {[START]
     % try to maintain backwards compatibility with v1 while enabling users to separatly
@@ -564,14 +584,14 @@
       Existing templates have the following dimensions: 2x2x1, 2x4x1, 4x2x1, 4x4x1, 4x4x2, and 4x4x4.
     }%
   \fi
-  \begin{tikzpicture}[
+  \tikzset{
     LineStyleA/.style={semithick,solid},
     LineStyleB/.style={semithick,dash dot dot},
     LineStyleC/.style={thin,double distance=0.8pt},
     LineStyleD/.style={ultra thick},
     LineStyleE/.style={semithick,dashed},
     LineStyleF/.style={semithick,densely dotted},
-  ]
+  }
     % grid {[START]
       % for all dimensions
       \draw[color=black, ultra thin] (0,0) grid (\@karnaughmap@var@mapsizex@,\@karnaughmap@var@mapsizey@);
@@ -1462,6 +1482,17 @@
 %   \end{karnaugh-map}
 % \end{figure}
 %
+% \texttt{omittikzpicture}: By default, the |karnaugh-map| environment creates its own |tikzpicture| environment. This option disables this behavior, and it would be expected that the user wraps the |karnaugh-map| environment in a |tikzpicture| environment. This option makes it possible to use the |tikzexternal| package with |karnaugh-map|, or to integrate |karnaugh-map| into a larger |tikzpicture|.
+%
+% \begin{verbatim}
+%   \begin{tikzpicture}
+%     \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)
+%       \minterms{0,1,2,3}
+%     \end{karnaugh-map}
+%     % Additional tikz code in the same picture
+%   \end{tikzpicture}}
+% \end{verbatim}
+%
 % \newpage
 % \section{Examples}
 %   \begin{multicols}{2}
diff --git a/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.pdf b/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e691e40
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.pdf differ
diff --git a/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.pdf b/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e691e40
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/expected/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.pdf differ
diff --git a/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.pdf b/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e299c12
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.pdf differ
diff --git a/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.pdf b/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.pdf
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..c06d3b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/expected/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.pdf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.pdf
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/expected/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.pdf b/test/expected/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d9db86
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/expected/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.pdf differ
diff --git a/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.tex b/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3bd9f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture-global-option.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+\documentclass{standalone}
+\usepackage[omittikzpicture]{../karnaugh-map}
+\begin{document}
+  % v1/v2 label
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}[2][2][1]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}[2][2][1][$a$]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}[2][2][1][$a$][$b$]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+\end{document}
diff --git a/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.tex b/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c1e604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/karnaugh-221-label-omit-tikzpicture.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+\documentclass{standalone}
+\usepackage{../karnaugh-map}
+\begin{document}
+  % v1/v2 label
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1][$a$]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1][$a$][$b$]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+\end{document}
diff --git a/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.tex b/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e87f10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture-default.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+\documentclass{standalone}
+\usepackage[omittikzpicture]{../karnaugh-map}
+\begin{document}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+    \begin{karnaugh-map}[4][4][1]
+      \implicant{0}{0}
+      \implicant{1}{1}
+      \implicant{2}{2}
+      \implicant{3}{3}
+      \implicant{4}{4}
+      \implicant{5}{5}
+      \implicant{6}{6}
+      \implicant{7}{7}
+      \implicant{8}{8}
+      \implicant{9}{9}
+      \implicant{10}{10}
+      \implicant{11}{11}
+      \implicant{12}{12}
+      \implicant{13}{13}
+      \implicant{14}{14}
+      \implicant{15}{15}
+    \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture=false)[4][4][1]
+    \implicant{0}{0}
+    \implicant{1}{1}
+    \implicant{2}{2}
+    \implicant{3}{3}
+    \implicant{4}{4}
+    \implicant{5}{5}
+    \implicant{6}{6}
+    \implicant{7}{7}
+    \implicant{8}{8}
+    \implicant{9}{9}
+    \implicant{10}{10}
+    \implicant{11}{11}
+    \implicant{12}{12}
+    \implicant{13}{13}
+    \implicant{14}{14}
+    \implicant{15}{15}
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+\end{document}
diff --git a/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.tex b/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0015848
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/karnaugh-option-omit-tikzpicture.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+\documentclass{standalone}
+\usepackage{../karnaugh-map}
+\begin{document}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+    \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][1]
+      \implicant{0}{0}
+      \implicant{1}{1}
+      \implicant{2}{2}
+      \implicant{3}{3}
+      \implicant{4}{4}
+      \implicant{5}{5}
+      \implicant{6}{6}
+      \implicant{7}{7}
+      \implicant{8}{8}
+      \implicant{9}{9}
+      \implicant{10}{10}
+      \implicant{11}{11}
+      \implicant{12}{12}
+      \implicant{13}{13}
+      \implicant{14}{14}
+      \implicant{15}{15}
+    \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}[4][4][1]
+    \implicant{0}{0}
+    \implicant{1}{1}
+    \implicant{2}{2}
+    \implicant{3}{3}
+    \implicant{4}{4}
+    \implicant{5}{5}
+    \implicant{6}{6}
+    \implicant{7}{7}
+    \implicant{8}{8}
+    \implicant{9}{9}
+    \implicant{10}{10}
+    \implicant{11}{11}
+    \implicant{12}{12}
+    \implicant{13}{13}
+    \implicant{14}{14}
+    \implicant{15}{15}
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+\end{document}
diff --git a/test/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.tex b/test/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec2e4d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/karnaugh-terms-omit-tikzpicture.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+\documentclass{standalone}
+\usepackage{../karnaugh-map}
+\begin{document}
+  % fill all fields (autoterms)
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][4][1]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][2][1]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][1]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][2]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][4]
+    \autoterms[-]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  % fill remaining after '\indeterminants' '\manualterms' '\maxterms' and '\minterms'
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1]
+    \manualterms{m}
+    \indeterminants{1}
+    \maxterms{2}
+    \minterms{3}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][2][1]
+    \manualterms{m}
+    \terms{1}{T}
+    \indeterminants{1}
+    \maxterms{2}
+    \minterms{3}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[2][4][1]
+    \manualterms{m}
+    \indeterminants{1}
+    \maxterms{2}
+    \minterms{3}
+    \terms{4}{T}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][2][1]
+    \manualterms{m}
+    \indeterminants{1}
+    \maxterms{2}
+    \minterms{3}
+    \terms{4}{T}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][1]
+    \manualterms{m,m}
+    \indeterminants{2,3}
+    \maxterms{4,5}
+    \minterms{6,7}
+    \terms{8,9}{T}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][2]
+    \manualterms{m,m,m,m}
+    \indeterminants{4,5,6,7}
+    \maxterms{8,9,10,11}
+    \minterms{12,13,14,15}
+    \terms{16,17,18,19}{T}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{tikzpicture}
+  \begin{karnaugh-map}(omittikzpicture)[4][4][4]
+    \manualterms{m,m,m,m}
+    \indeterminants{4,5,6,7}
+    \maxterms{8,9,10,11}
+    \minterms{12,13,14,15}
+    \terms{16,17,18,19}{T}
+    \autoterms[a]
+  \end{karnaugh-map}
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+\end{document}