diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 03b97a2c8..cc139fbac 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -183,9 +183,12 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(doc)
-add_subdirectory(src)
+
+# build translations before source, I18N unit tests fail if they are missing
 add_subdirectory(translations)
 
+add_subdirectory(src)
+
 option(BUILD_INSTALLER "Build installer" ON)
 if(BUILD_INSTALLER)
     add_subdirectory(deploy)