diff --git a/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh b/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
index 50b7a631297b150ac9d25c036d21b0bdf2854b79..0fb29d4b3d4c7fd579823075bfeb89e3977409f9 100755
--- a/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
+++ b/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
@@ -490,7 +490,8 @@ function assert_api_spec_approvals() {
         BRANCH="develop"
     fi
 
-    API_FILES=("paddle/fluid/API.spec"
+    API_FILES=("cmake/external"
+               "paddle/fluid/API.spec"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/operator.h"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/tensor.h"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/lod_tensor.h"