diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7072537f1..9da3735ef 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ ELSE()
 ENDIF()
 
 # Only generate this target if no higher-level project already has
-IF (NOT TARGET uninstall)
+IF (NOT TARGET uninstall AND ASSIMP_INSTALL)
   # add make uninstall capability
   CONFIGURE_FILE("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake-modules/cmake_uninstall.cmake.in" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cmake_uninstall.cmake" IMMEDIATE @ONLY)
   ADD_CUSTOM_TARGET(uninstall "${CMAKE_COMMAND}" -P "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cmake_uninstall.cmake")