diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 239dc7a94..e9a2df084 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if (BUILD_UWUW)
   endif()
 
   # Check to see if submodules exist (by checking one)
-  if(NOT EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/pyne/pyne/readme.rst")
+  if(NOT EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/pyne/pyne/readme.rst")
     message(FATAL_ERROR "The git submodules were not downloaded! GIT_SUBMODULE was \
       turned off or failed. Please update submodules and try again.")
   endif()