diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 65a033ad..2c4bd4f8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -110,5 +110,12 @@ set(CMAKE_ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR})
 add_library(monoprop-objs OBJECT "")
 add_library(monoprop SHARED $<TARGET_OBJECTS:monoprop-objs>)
 
+# must run before add_subdirectory(cpp): CTest's enabled-ness does not propagate
+# back up to a parent directory that has already been added as a subdirectory.
+if(monoprop_ENABLE_CXX_UNIT_TESTS)
+  enable_testing()
+  include(CTest)
+endif()
+
 add_subdirectory(cpp)
 add_subdirectory(src/monoprop/bindings)
diff --git a/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index a90e6349..361e4531 100644
--- a/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -51,7 +51,5 @@ install(
 )
 
 if(monoprop_ENABLE_CXX_UNIT_TESTS)
-  enable_testing()
-  include(CTest)
   add_subdirectory(tests)
 endif()