diff --git a/cmake/FindnetCDF.cmake b/cmake/FindnetCDF.cmake
index 393c57549b..361095954e 100644
--- a/cmake/FindnetCDF.cmake
+++ b/cmake/FindnetCDF.cmake
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ if (NOT netCDF_ROOT AND EXISTS "${BOUT_USE_NETCDF}")
   set(netCDF_ROOT "${BOUT_USE_NETCDF}")
 endif()
 
+enable_language(C)
 find_package(netCDF QUIET CONFIG)
 
 if (netCDF_FOUND)
diff --git a/cmake/SetupBOUTThirdParty.cmake b/cmake/SetupBOUTThirdParty.cmake
index 10942f8aa9..53ceb4351c 100644
--- a/cmake/SetupBOUTThirdParty.cmake
+++ b/cmake/SetupBOUTThirdParty.cmake
@@ -272,6 +272,7 @@ option(BOUT_DOWNLOAD_SUNDIALS "Download and build SUNDIALS" OFF)
 cmake_dependent_option(BOUT_USE_SUNDIALS "Enable support for SUNDIALS time solvers" OFF
   "NOT BOUT_DOWNLOAD_SUNDIALS" ON)
 if (BOUT_USE_SUNDIALS)
+  enable_language(C)
   if (BOUT_DOWNLOAD_SUNDIALS)
     message(STATUS "Downloading and configuring SUNDIALS")
     include(FetchContent)
@@ -293,7 +294,6 @@ if (BOUT_USE_SUNDIALS)
     FetchContent_MakeAvailable(sundials)
     message(STATUS "SUNDIALS done configuring")
   else()
-    enable_language(C)
     find_package(SUNDIALS REQUIRED)
     if (SUNDIALS_VERSION VERSION_LESS 4.0.0)
       message(FATAL_ERROR "SUNDIALS_VERSION 4.0.0 or newer is required. Found version ${SUNDIALS_VERSION}.")