diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b4ffc27..2ae1ca04 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@ INCLUDE (subdirs)
 INCLUDE (openssl)
 INCLUDE (version)
 
-OPTION (BUILD_BENCHMARK "Build benchmark" OFF)
-OPTION (BUILD_TESTS "Build tests" OFF)
-OPTION (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libs" OFF)
+# use global flags only for standalone build
+IF ("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}" STREQUAL "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}")
+    OPTION (BUILD_BENCHMARK "Build benchmark" OFF)
+    OPTION (BUILD_TESTS "Build tests" OFF)
+    OPTION (BUILD_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libs" OFF)
+ENDIF ()
 OPTION (WITH_OPENSSL "Use OpenSSL for TLS connections" OFF)
 OPTION (WITH_SYSTEM_ABSEIL "Use system ABSEIL" OFF)
 OPTION (WITH_SYSTEM_LZ4 "Use system LZ4" OFF)