diff --git a/sdk/test/metrics/CMakeLists.txt b/sdk/test/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
index 1b69d31aac..eafb116661 100644
--- a/sdk/test/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/sdk/test/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -80,4 +80,6 @@ if(WITH_BENCHMARK)
     metrics_common_test_utils opentelemetry_common opentelemetry_resources)
 endif()
 
-add_subdirectory(exemplar)
+if(WITH_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_PREVIEW)
+  add_subdirectory(exemplar)
+endif()