diff --git a/core/CMakeLists.txt b/core/CMakeLists.txt
index 3483f9c..57e149b 100644
--- a/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ endif()
 
 
 # coordinate systems
-if(VXL_BUILD_CORE_GEOMETRY AND VXL_BUILD_CORE_NUMERICS)
+if(VXL_BUILD_CORE_GEOMETRY AND VXL_BUILD_CORE_NUMERICS AND VXL_BUILD_CORE_IMAGING)
   add_subdirectory(vcsl)
   add_subdirectory(vpgl)
 endif()