diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index c1bbf282b..866ac7dd2 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ TODO:
 * exploit ref/cref in any to avoid invoking the vtable if possible
 * entity based component_traits
 * copy-and-swap for any and meta_any
-* fix cmake warning about FetchContent_Populate
+* review cmake warning about FetchContent_Populate (need .28 and EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL for FetchContent)
 * deprecate meta properties in favor of custom data
 * make meta objects safe to use with null nodes
 * meta: vectors for details and props
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 0fba5adb2..5102c9371 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,13 +16,8 @@ else()
         GIT_SHALLOW 1
     )
 
-    FetchContent_GetProperties(googletest)
-
-    if(NOT googletest_POPULATED)
-        FetchContent_Populate(googletest)
-        set(gtest_force_shared_crt ON CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
-        add_subdirectory(${googletest_SOURCE_DIR} ${googletest_BINARY_DIR})
-    endif()
+    set(gtest_force_shared_crt ON CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    FetchContent_MakeAvailable(googletest)
 
     add_library(GTest::Main ALIAS gtest_main)