diff --git a/externals/CMakeLists.txt b/externals/CMakeLists.txt
index 406c90cb1..4c9f20437 100644
--- a/externals/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/externals/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,4 +34,7 @@ else()
     add_subdirectory(zlib-ng)
 endif()
 
-
+if(NOT ENABLE_QT_GUI)
+# SDL3
+add_subdirectory(SDL3 EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+endif()