diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bab135c6e1266bf8ec35b52ec019e561328854c8..e1b42d91e58912d2ad07fdf14491a810ef1ae44e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -148,6 +148,8 @@ endif()
 
 include(DD4hep_XML_setup)
 
+IF(DD4HEP_USE_EXISTING_DD4HEP)
+
   MESSAGE(STATUS "|!!> Using pre-existing DD4hep: ${DD4HEP_USE_EXISTING_DD4HEP}")
   SET(CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME DD4hepSelected)
   dd4hep_set_version(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}