diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f8559861..2f08e6bd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,17 +16,6 @@ set(PROJECT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz)
 # External configuration CMake scripts
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH};${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake")
 
-# Ensure presence of Git submodules (when not using the source tarball)
-if(EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/.git" AND NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.19.0")
-    include(GitSubmoduleCheck)
-    git_submodule_check(external/abseil-cpp)
-    git_submodule_check(external/filesystem)
-    git_submodule_check(external/simde)
-    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/dr_libs)
-    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/libaiff)
-    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/wavpack)
-endif()
-
 include(BuildType)
 
 # Build Options
@@ -54,10 +43,23 @@ option_ex(SFIZZ_RELEASE_ASSERTS     "Forced assertions in release builds" OFF)
 option_ex(SFIZZ_PROFILE_BUILD       "Profile the build time" OFF)
 option_ex(SFIZZ_SNDFILE_STATIC      "Link the sndfile library statically" OFF)
 option_ex(SFIZZ_ASAN                "Use address sanitizer on all sfizz targets" OFF)
+option_ex(SFIZZ_GIT_SUBMODULE_CHECK "Check Git submodules presence" ON)
 
 # Continuous Controller count (0 to 511)
 set(MIDI_CC_COUNT 512 CACHE STRING "Maximum number of managed Control Change messages")
 
+# Ensure presence of Git submodules (when not using the source tarball)
+if(SFIZZ_GIT_SUBMODULE_CHECK AND EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/.git"
+    AND NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.19.0")
+    include(GitSubmoduleCheck)
+    git_submodule_check(external/abseil-cpp)
+    git_submodule_check(external/filesystem)
+    git_submodule_check(external/simde)
+    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/dr_libs)
+    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/libaiff)
+    git_submodule_check(external/st_audiofile/thirdparty/wavpack)
+endif()
+
 include(SfizzConfig)
 include(SfizzDeps)
 include(SfizzFaust)