diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 184d06ca4..0537a47e4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.7.0)
 
+if( CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR STREQUAL CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR )
+  project(clad)
+endif()
+
 enable_language(CXX)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS NO)
 
@@ -45,8 +49,6 @@ set(LLVM_VERSION_UPPER_BOUND 19.2.0)
 if( CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR STREQUAL CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR )
   set(CLAD_BUILT_STANDALONE 1)
 
-  project(clad)
-
   if (NOT DEFINED Clang_DIR)
     set(Clang_DIR ${LLVM_DIR})
   endif()