diff --git a/cmake/configure_variorum.cmake b/cmake/configure_variorum.cmake
index b6280dc0a..4c45612e8 100644
--- a/cmake/configure_variorum.cmake
+++ b/cmake/configure_variorum.cmake
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ if(NOT DEFINED Variorum_ROOT)
   if(DEFINED ENV{VARIORUM_ROOT})
     set(Variorum_ROOT $ENV{VARIORUM_ROOT})
     set(MSG_NOTFOUND "check VARIORUM_ROOT environment variable ($ENV{VARIORUM_ROOT})")
+  else()
+    set(Variorum_ROOT ${VARIORUM_ROOT})
   endif()
-  set(Variorum_ROOT ${VARIORUM_ROOT})
 else()
   set(MSG_NOTFOUND "check Variorum_ROOT (${Variorum_ROOT})")
 endif()