diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7d736d129..93d7801dd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -269,7 +269,9 @@ endif()
 ################################################################################
 include_directories(${PROJ_SOURCE_DIR}/src)
 
-add_subdirectory(data)
+if(BUILD_PROJ_DATABASE)
+  add_subdirectory(data)
+endif()
 add_subdirectory(include)
 add_subdirectory(src)
 add_subdirectory(man)