diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bb5a0dc70c..03c76936c4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -248,7 +248,10 @@ cpp_cc_git_submodule(Random123)
 cpp_cc_git_submodule(eigen)
 find_package(fmt)
 if(NOT fmt_FOUND)
+    message(STATUS "importing fmt from submodule")
     nrn_add_external_project(fmt)
+else()
+    message(STATUS "fmt has been found on the system")
 endif()
 set_property(TARGET fmt PROPERTY POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)