diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/KOKKOS.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/KOKKOS.cmake
index 8b695667ae..795b087bcb 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/KOKKOS.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/KOKKOS.cmake
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ else()
   if(CMAKE_REQUEST_PIC)
     set(CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
   endif()
-  add_subdirectory(${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_SRC_DIR} ${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_BIN_DIR})
+  add_subdirectory(${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_SRC_DIR} ${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_BIN_DIR} EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 
   set(Kokkos_INCLUDE_DIRS ${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_SRC_DIR}/core/src
                           ${LAMMPS_LIB_KOKKOS_SRC_DIR}/containers/src