diff --git a/cmake/external_projects/qutlass.cmake b/cmake/external_projects/qutlass.cmake
index 9aace7693..5a59a4099 100644
--- a/cmake/external_projects/qutlass.cmake
+++ b/cmake/external_projects/qutlass.cmake
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ else()
     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
     BUILD_COMMAND ""
   )
-  FetchContent_Populate(qutlass)
-  set(qutlass_SOURCE_DIR "${qutlass_SOURCE_DIR}")
 endif()
 
+FetchContent_Populate(qutlass)
+
 if(NOT qutlass_SOURCE_DIR)
   message(FATAL_ERROR "[QUTLASS] source directory could not be resolved.")
 endif()