diff --git a/unittest/force-styles/CMakeLists.txt b/unittest/force-styles/CMakeLists.txt
index 60e83e7e16..2c0977397a 100644
--- a/unittest/force-styles/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/unittest/force-styles/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ else()
   target_link_libraries(style_tests PUBLIC mpi_stubs)
 endif()
 # propagate sanitizer options to test tools
-if (NOT ENABLE_SANITIZER STREQUAL "none")
+if (ENABLE_SANITIZER AND (NOT ENABLE_SANITIZER STREQUAL "none"))
   if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 3.13)
     target_compile_options(style_tests PUBLIC -fsanitize=${ENABLE_SANITIZER})
     target_link_options(style_tests PUBLIC -fsanitize=${ENABLE_SANITIZER})