diff --git a/cmake/external/python.cmake b/cmake/external/python.cmake
index 0accf1a8dd..93d7275df0 100644
--- a/cmake/external/python.cmake
+++ b/cmake/external/python.cmake
@@ -221,3 +221,7 @@ ENDIF(PYTHONLIBS_FOUND AND PYTHONINTERP_FOUND)
 
 INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR})
 INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(${PYTHON_NUMPY_INCLUDE_DIR})
+
+IF(NOT WITH_PYTHON)
+    SET(PYTHON_LIBRARIES "")
+ENDIF()