diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 21311d4..7f3ae9e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ if (IMAGINEMODELS_USE_AUTODIFF)
         if(NOT EXISTS ${EIGEN_PATH})
             message("The Eigen3 submodule was not found! Please run 'git submodule update --init' OR set the EIGEN_PATH variable to the eigen header files manually. Will proceed with autodifferentiation disabled." )
             set(IMAGINEMODELS_USE_AUTODIFF OFF) 
+            set(autodiff_FOUND OFF) 
         else()
             message("-- Eigen3 library found as a submodule  at ${EIGEN_PATH}. Trying to find autodiff now.")
             set(Eigen3_FOUND ON) 
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ if (IMAGINEMODELS_USE_AUTODIFF)
             if(NOT EXISTS ${INTERNAL_findautodiff_DIR})
                 message("The autodiff submodule was not found! Please run 'git submodule update --init'. Alternatively you can install autodiff globally on your system." )
                 set(IMAGINEMODELS_USE_AUTODIFF OFF) 
+                set(autodiff_FOUND OFF) 
             else()
                 add_subdirectory(${INTERNAL_findautodiff_DIR})
                 message("-- autodiff library found as a submodule. Tests will be compiled.")