diff --git a/common/CMakeLists.txt b/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 7fdab762c..5dcc5f393 100644
--- a/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ pkg_check_modules(JANSSON IMPORTED_TARGET REQUIRED jansson>=2.7)
 pkg_check_modules(LIBCONFIG IMPORTED_TARGET libconfig>=1.4.9)
 
 add_subdirectory(lib)
-if(CRITERION_FOUND)
+if(CRITERION_FOUND AND TOPLEVEL_PROJECT)
     add_subdirectory(tests)
 endif()