diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 518e4a1af6..09692e8742 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ endif ( )
 # determine what user threading model to use
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-option ( SUITESPARSE_USE_OPENMP "ON (default): Use OpenMP if available.  OFF: Do not use OpenMP" ON )
 option ( LAGRAPH_USE_OPENMP "ON: Use OpenMP in LAGraph if available.  OFF: Do not use OpenMP.  (Default: SUITESPARSE_USE_OPENMP)" ${SUITESPARSE_USE_OPENMP} )
 if ( COVERAGE )
     set ( LAGRAPH_USE_OPENMP OFF )  # OK: test coverage is enabled
diff --git a/cmake_modules/SuiteSparsePolicy.cmake b/cmake_modules/SuiteSparsePolicy.cmake
index e5baa91f83..b48e91520a 100644
--- a/cmake_modules/SuiteSparsePolicy.cmake
+++ b/cmake_modules/SuiteSparsePolicy.cmake
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ include ( GNUInstallDirs )
 set ( CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH}
     ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake_modules )
 
+# Use OpenMP
+option ( SUITESPARSE_USE_OPENMP "ON (default): Use OpenMP if available.  OFF: Do not use OpenMP" ON )
+
 # strict usage
 option ( SUITESPARSE_USE_STRICT "ON: treat all _USE__ settings as strict if they are ON. OFF (default): consider *_USE_* as preferences, not strict" OFF )