diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index acc6808d9472e4fd1c96f4fc666add399bf3c98b..db6438c29b497a8356f98c1c9c2d801f349dfa12 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -68,10 +68,12 @@ endif()
 
 
 # find python
+if (BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS)
 find_package(PythonInterp)
 if (NOT PYTHON_EXECUTABLE)
     set(BUILD_PYTHON_BINDINGS OFF)
 endif()
+endif()
 
 find_hdf5()
 if (NOT HDF5_FOUND)
@@ -112,10 +114,12 @@ if (USE_MPI AND HDF5_IS_PARALLEL)
 endif()
 
 
-find_package(GTest) 
+if (BUILD_TESTS)
+find_package(GTest)
 if (NOT GTEST_FOUND)
 	message(WARNING "gtest library not found, some tests will not be run")
 endif()
+endif()
 
 
 if (USE_OPENMP)