diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7b876edefc1..1672f91187b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -662,13 +662,17 @@ IF (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
 ENDIF (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
 
 
+#############################################################
+# Python build dependency
+
+FIND_PACKAGE(PythonInterp REQUIRED)
+
 #############################################################
 # Python bindings
 
 IF (WITH_BINDINGS)
 
   # python support: check for interpreter, sip, pyqt4
-  FIND_PACKAGE(PythonInterp REQUIRED)
   FIND_PACKAGE(PythonLibrary REQUIRED)
   FIND_PACKAGE(SIP REQUIRED)
   FIND_PACKAGE(PyQt4 REQUIRED)