diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 04be58e9..a9ed23fd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ endif()
 
 
 # Optional components
-option(TESTS "Set to OFF to skip building test executable (in ./tests)" ON)
+option(TESTS "Set to ON to build test executable (in ./tests)" OFF)
 option(SAMPLES "Set to ON to build executable code samples (in ./samples)" OFF)
 option(BENCHMARKS "Set to ON to build performance benchmarks (in ./benchmarks)" OFF)
 option(PYTHON "Set to ON to build Arrow conversion functions (in ./python)" OFF)