diff --git a/settings.gradle.kts b/settings.gradle.kts
index 5feac4dc..7c3d009d 100644
--- a/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -7,5 +7,9 @@ gradle.rootProject {
 }
 
 if (System.getProperty("CI").toBoolean() != true && System.getenv("CI").toBoolean() != true) {
-    includeBuild("../scenery")
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    if(File("../scenery/build.gradle.kts").exists()) {
+        logger.warn("Including local scenery project instead of version declared in build")
+        includeBuild("../scenery")
+    }
+}
+