diff --git a/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index c68be5e619..4a96e1ee40 100644
--- a/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
 # - User Options  ------------------------------------------------------------
 
 option(BUILD_TESTS "Build raft unit-tests" ON)
-option(BUILD_BENCH "Build raft C++ benchmark tests" ON)
+option(BUILD_BENCH "Build raft C++ benchmark tests" OFF)
 option(CUDA_ENABLE_KERNELINFO "Enable kernel resource usage info" OFF)
 option(CUDA_ENABLE_LINEINFO "Enable the -lineinfo option for nvcc (useful for cuda-memcheck / profiler)" OFF)
 option(CUDA_STATIC_RUNTIME "Statically link the CUDA runtime" OFF)