diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 00353d542bcc2bdc2fe518ddc46c50a8c3ffe1cb..9b39c3329dca5cdbe0bcef301a301312593ead5f 100755
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 11)
 add_definitions ("-D_GNU_SOURCE")
 
 if(NOT (${SUBMODULES_NO_BUILD} MATCHES ON))
-    add_subdirectory(libdap)
+    if ( NOT ( TARGET dap_core ) )
+        add_subdirectory(libdap)
+    endif()
     enable_testing()
     add_subdirectory(test)
 endif()