diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c89a7de447..538d761e16 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -76,8 +76,15 @@ add_subdirectory(source)
 
 # docs
 if(${BUILD_DOCS})
-    execute_process(COMMAND doxygen ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/docs/Doxyfile)
+    find_program(DOC_GENERATOR doxygen)
+    if(NOT DOC_GENERATOR)
+        message("doxygen is not found, skip doc build")
+    else()
+        execute_process(
+            COMMAND doxygen ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/docs/Doxyfile
+            WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+        )
+    endif(NOT DOC_GENERATOR)
 endif(${BUILD_DOCS})
 
-
 # tests (TODO)
diff --git a/cmake/cmake.options b/cmake/cmake.options
index 88f2b88fa6..7b5aeb8e65 100644
--- a/cmake/cmake.options
+++ b/cmake/cmake.options
@@ -40,5 +40,5 @@ option(
 option(
     BUILD_DOCS
     "If use doxygen build documents" 
-    OFF
+    ON
 )
\ No newline at end of file