--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 if(NOT meshoptimizer_POPULATED)
-  if(COMMAND FetchContent_Populate)
-    FetchContent_Populate(meshoptimizer)
-  endif()
+  set(meshoptimizer_SOURCE_DIR "${EXTERNALS_DIR}/meshoptimizer")
+  set(meshoptimizer_BINARY_DIR "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/externals/meshoptimizer")
+
   add_subdirectory(${meshoptimizer_SOURCE_DIR} ${meshoptimizer_BINARY_DIR} EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 endif()