diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 44d0a471b5..deab6924ed 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ endif(PLASMA_PIPELINE_METAL)
 
 # Allow us to disable certain parts of the build
 option(PLASMA_BUILD_CLIENT "Do we want to build plClient?" ON)
-cmake_dependent_option(PLASMA_BUILD_MAX_PLUGIN "Do we want to build the 3ds Max plugin?" OFF "TARGET 3dsm" OFF)
+cmake_dependent_option(PLASMA_BUILD_MAX_PLUGIN "Do we want to build the 3ds Max plugin?" OFF "TARGET 3dsm AND NOT PLASMA_EXTERNAL_RELEASE" OFF)
 option(PLASMA_BUILD_LAUNCHER "Do we want to build plUruLauncher?" ON)
 option(PLASMA_BUILD_TOOLS "Do we want to build the Plasma tools?" ON)
 option(PLASMA_BUILD_TESTS "Do we want to build the unit tests?" OFF)