diff --git a/doc/CMakeLists.txt b/doc/CMakeLists.txt
index 0dda20fe..61b817d4 100644
--- a/doc/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/doc/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+if (NOT EXISTS ${FORMAT_SOURCE_DIR}/breathe/breathe)
+  message(STATUS "Target 'doc' disabled (requires breathe module)")
+  return ()
+endif ()
+
 foreach (program doxygen sphinx-build)
   find_program(${program} ${program})
   if (NOT ${program})