diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 686c4aa9d4cb70eae8fb3a19972473138b8cc018..2acb5ab5461061245b4e1203a28ad9b443da9899 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ if(${OPENMP_FOUND})
   set(KOKKOS_ENABLE_OPENMP ON CACHE BOOL "")
 endif()
 
+# do not build ETI by default
+set(KOKKOS_ENABLE_EXPLICIT_INSTANTIATION OFF CACHE BOOL "")
+
 # Kokkso compiler flags
 add_subdirectory(${PASTIS_SOURCE_DIR}/packages/kokkos)
 include_directories(${Kokkos_INCLUDE_DIRS_RET})