diff --git a/extern/i18n.lua/CMakeLists.txt b/extern/i18n.lua/CMakeLists.txt
index aec4447470..1f7a71a2c2 100644
--- a/extern/i18n.lua/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/extern/i18n.lua/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 if (NOT DEFINED OPENMW_RESOURCES_ROOT)
-    message( FATAL_ERROR "OPENMW_RESOURCES_ROOT is not set" )
+    return()
 endif()
 
 # Copy resource files into the build directory