diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e2ba9e129e..e754fc713f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,20 +30,27 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG  "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} -DDEBUG")
 
 if (WIN32)
   add_definitions(-DNOMINMAX -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS)
+
+  if (NOT WINDOW_SDK_PATH)
+    set(DEBUG_DISCOVERED_SDK_PATH TRUE)
+  endif()
+
   # sets path for Microsoft SDKs
   # if you get build error about missing 'glu32' this path is likely wrong
   if (MSVC10)
-    set(WINDOW_SDK_PATH "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SDKs\\Windows\\v7.1 ")
+    set(WINDOW_SDK_PATH "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SDKs\\Windows\\v7.1 " CACHE PATH)
   elseif (MSVC12)
     if ("${CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P}" EQUAL "8")
       set(WINDOW_SDK_FOLDER "x64")
     else()
       set(WINDOW_SDK_FOLDER "x86")
     endif()
-    set(WINDOW_SDK_PATH "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Kits\\8.1\\Lib\\winv6.3\\um\\${WINDOW_SDK_FOLDER}")
+    set(WINDOW_SDK_PATH "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Kits\\8.1\\Lib\\winv6.3\\um\\${WINDOW_SDK_FOLDER}" CACHE PATH)
   endif ()
 
-  message("The discovered Windows SDK path is ${WINDOW_SDK_PATH}")
+  if (DEBUG_DISCOVERED_SDK_PATH)
+    message("The discovered Windows SDK path is ${WINDOW_SDK_PATH}")
+  endif ()
 
   set(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH} ${WINDOW_SDK_PATH})
   # /wd4351 disables warning C4351: new behavior: elements of array will be default initialized