diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7455b1e..c9d2706 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -564,7 +564,10 @@ if (CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME STREQUAL PROJECT_NAME AND BUILD_TESTING AND
 add_subdirectory(tests)
 endif()
 
+if (CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME STREQUAL PROJECT_NAME)
+# skip apps when we're included in someone else's build
 if (NOT MSVC)  # cmd line apps don't built on Windows currently.
 add_subdirectory(apps)
 endif()
+endif()