diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 5cf92080..ca6aa68b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ CHECK_INCLUDE_FILES(arm_neon.h HAVE_ARM_NEON_H)
 set(BUILD_TESTING OFF CACHE BOOL "Disable Abseil's tests")
 set(BENCHMARK_ENABLE_TESTING OFF CACHE BOOL "Disable Google Benchmark tests")
 set(BENCHMARK_ENABLE_INSTALL OFF CACHE BOOL "Disable Google Benchmark install")
-add_subdirectory(external/abseil-cpp)
-add_subdirectory(external/Catch2)
-add_subdirectory(external/benchmark)
-add_subdirectory(external/cnpy)
+add_subdirectory(external/abseil-cpp EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+add_subdirectory(external/Catch2 EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+add_subdirectory(external/benchmark EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+add_subdirectory(external/cnpy EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 
 # Download libsndfile
 if (WIN32)