diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index eecd145edda1..3ba833d7425e 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@ find_package(Boost REQUIRED
     iostreams
     unit_test_framework)
 find_package(absl REQUIRED)
+find_program(GO_PROGRAM go REQUIRED)
 add_subdirectory(v)
 add_subdirectory(go/kreq-gen)
diff --git a/src/v/CMakeLists.txt b/src/v/CMakeLists.txt
index 938d7de65a52..ef4d0b57884b 100644
--- a/src/v/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/v/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ if(REDPANDA_RUN_CLANG_TIDY)
     unset(clang_tidy_checks)
 endif()
 
-find_program(GO_PROGRAM go REQUIRED)
-
 # libraries
 add_subdirectory(test_utils)
 add_subdirectory(ssx)