diff --git a/be/CMakeLists.txt b/be/CMakeLists.txt
index 9a9f0f182a..6bf98132f1 100644
--- a/be/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/be/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ add_subdirectory(${SRC_DIR}/runtime)
 add_subdirectory(${SRC_DIR}/service)
 add_subdirectory(${SRC_DIR}/udf)
 
-if (${BUILD_META_TOOL} STREQUAL "ON")
+if (BUILD_META_TOOL AND BUILD_META_TOOL STREQUAL "ON")
     add_subdirectory(${SRC_DIR}/tools)
 endif()