diff --git a/cmake/GoogleTest.cmake.in b/cmake/GoogleTest.cmake.in
index fd957ff5..99e27fab 100644
--- a/cmake/GoogleTest.cmake.in
+++ b/cmake/GoogleTest.cmake.in
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ if(EXISTS "${GOOGLETEST_PATH}"            AND IS_DIRECTORY "${GOOGLETEST_PATH}"
 else()
   if(NOT ALLOW_DOWNLOADING_GOOGLETEST)
     message(SEND_ERROR "Did not find Google Test sources! Either pass correct path in GOOGLETEST_PATH, or enable BENCHMARK_DOWNLOAD_DEPENDENCIES, or disable BENCHMARK_ENABLE_GTEST_TESTS / BENCHMARK_ENABLE_TESTING.")
+    return()
   else()
     message(WARNING "Did not find Google Test sources! Fetching from web...")
     ExternalProject_Add(