diff --git a/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh b/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
index 33e0ec4ee226126374413382fe8fcbdebdf50f9e..855a8d35653ec71b9b10aa9000806bf7740ff23c 100755
--- a/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
+++ b/paddle/scripts/paddle_build.sh
@@ -431,8 +431,7 @@ function assert_api_spec_approvals() {
         BRANCH="develop"
     fi
 
-    API_FILES=("cmake/external"
-               "paddle/fluid/API.spec"
+    API_FILES=("paddle/fluid/API.spec"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/operator.h"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/tensor.h"
                "paddle/fluid/framework/lod_tensor.h"