diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 10fef39b909..07abab6b747 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
 
+# Determine if zstd is built as a subproject (using add_subdirectory) or if it
+# is the master project.
+if (NOT DEFINED ZSTD_MASTER_PROJECT)
+    set(ZSTD_MASTER_PROJECT OFF)
+    # Checking project name is more reliable than checking source directories.
+    if (NOT DEFINED PROJECT_NAME)
+        set(ZSTD_MASTER_PROJECT ON)
+    endif()
+endif()
+
 # Thin wrapper so `cmake -S .` behaves like `cmake -S build/cmake`.
 # Policy lives in build/cmake; keep parent project language-less.
 project(zstd-superbuild LANGUAGES NONE)
diff --git a/build/cmake/CMakeModules/ZstdOptions.cmake b/build/cmake/CMakeModules/ZstdOptions.cmake
index dc7813444e2..aaef1e0dba7 100644
--- a/build/cmake/CMakeModules/ZstdOptions.cmake
+++ b/build/cmake/CMakeModules/ZstdOptions.cmake
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 # Build component options
-option(ZSTD_BUILD_PROGRAMS "Build command-line programs" ON)
+option(ZSTD_BUILD_PROGRAMS "Build command-line programs" ${ZSTD_MASTER_PROJECT})
 option(ZSTD_BUILD_CONTRIB "Build contrib utilities" OFF)
 option(ZSTD_PROGRAMS_LINK_SHARED "Link programs against shared library" OFF)