diff --git a/gtsam/3rdparty/metis-5.1.0/CMakeLists.txt b/gtsam/3rdparty/metis-5.1.0/CMakeLists.txt
index 4c4ecf566..69774c468 100644
--- a/gtsam/3rdparty/metis-5.1.0/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/gtsam/3rdparty/metis-5.1.0/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -24,4 +24,7 @@ include_directories(include)
 # Recursively look for CMakeLists.txt in subdirs.
 add_subdirectory("include")
 add_subdirectory("libmetis")
-add_subdirectory("programs")
+
+if(GTSAM_BUILD_METIS_EXECUTABLES)
+  add_subdirectory("programs")
+endif()