diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e943d69346099e66add2e126772aa78c1115bb92..5662bf71b53fd3f05c7d2648d17c517a9ef82d4a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if(NOT (dune-common_DIR OR dune-common_ROOT OR
 endif()
 
 #find dune-common and set the module path
-find_package(dune-common)
+find_package(dune-common REQUIRED)
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${dune-common_MODULE_PATH}
   "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/modules")