diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d1ae64e2f56..198727dc5d6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,17 +25,18 @@ endif()
 # Support adding CCCL to a parent project via add_subdirectory.
 if (NOT CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT)
   include(cmake/CCCLAddSubdir.cmake)
-  return()
 endif()
 
 # We require a higher cmake version for dev builds
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.21)
+if (CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT)
+  cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.21)
+endif()
 
-option(CCCL_ENABLE_LIBCUDACXX "Enable the libcu++ developer build." ON)
-option(CCCL_ENABLE_CUB "Enable the CUB developer build." ON)
-option(CCCL_ENABLE_THRUST "Enable the Thrust developer build." ON)
-option(CCCL_ENABLE_TESTING "Enable CUDA C++ Core Library tests." ON)
-option(CCCL_ENABLE_EXAMPLES "Enable CUDA C++ Core Library examples." ON)
+option(CCCL_ENABLE_LIBCUDACXX "Enable the libcu++ developer build." ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
+option(CCCL_ENABLE_CUB "Enable the CUB developer build." ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
+option(CCCL_ENABLE_THRUST "Enable the Thrust developer build." ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
+option(CCCL_ENABLE_TESTING "Enable CUDA C++ Core Library tests." ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
+option(CCCL_ENABLE_EXAMPLES "Enable CUDA C++ Core Library examples." ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
 option(CCCL_ENABLE_BENCHMARKS "Enable CUDA C++ Core Library benchmarks." OFF)
 
 option(CCCL_ENABLE_UNSTABLE "Enable targets and developer build options for unstable projects." OFF)
@@ -44,27 +45,28 @@ if (CCCL_ENABLE_UNSTABLE)
   option(CCCL_ENABLE_CUDAX "Enable the CUDA Experimental developer build." ON)
 endif()
 
-
 include(CTest)
 enable_testing()
 
-include(cmake/CCCLUtilities.cmake) # include this first
-include(cmake/CCCLClangdCompileInfo.cmake)
+if (CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT)
+  include(cmake/CCCLUtilities.cmake) # include this first
+  include(cmake/CCCLClangdCompileInfo.cmake)
+endif()
 
 if (CCCL_ENABLE_LIBCUDACXX)
-  set(LIBCUDACXX_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ON)
+  set(LIBCUDACXX_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
 endif()
 
 if (CCCL_ENABLE_CUB)
-  set(CUB_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ON)
+  set(CUB_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
 endif()
 
 if (CCCL_ENABLE_THRUST)
-  set(THRUST_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ON)
+  set(THRUST_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
 endif()
 
 if (CCCL_ENABLE_CUDAX)
-  set(cudax_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ON)
+  set(cudax_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT ${CCCL_TOPLEVEL_PROJECT})
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(libcudacxx)