diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1a4c17202..ea7175c9f 100755
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ include(cmake/StandardProjectSettings.cmake)
 include(cmake/PreventInSourceBuilds.cmake)
 include(cmake/PackageAddTest.cmake)
 include(cmake/Cache.cmake)
-include(cmake/Python.cmake)
 
 option(BUILD_MQT_CORE_BINDINGS "Build the MQT Core Python bindings" OFF)
 if(BUILD_MQT_CORE_BINDINGS)
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@ if(BUILD_MQT_CORE_BINDINGS)
   set(BINDINGS
       ON
       CACHE INTERNAL "Enable settings related to Python bindings")
+  include(cmake/Python.cmake)
   find_python()
 endif()
 
diff --git a/cmake/ExternalDependencies.cmake b/cmake/ExternalDependencies.cmake
index c5e65d95d..327c5e731 100644
--- a/cmake/ExternalDependencies.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ExternalDependencies.cmake
@@ -70,19 +70,5 @@ if(BUILD_MQT_CORE_TESTS)
   endif()
 endif()
 
-if(BUILD_MQT_CORE_BINDINGS)
-  if(NOT SKBUILD)
-    # Manually detect the installed pybind11 package and import it into CMake.
-    execute_process(
-      COMMAND "${Python_EXECUTABLE}" -m pybind11 --cmakedir
-      OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
-      OUTPUT_VARIABLE pybind11_DIR)
-    list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "${pybind11_DIR}")
-  endif()
-
-  # add pybind11 library
-  find_package(pybind11 CONFIG REQUIRED)
-endif()
-
 # Make all declared dependencies available.
 FetchContent_MakeAvailable(${FETCH_PACKAGES})
diff --git a/cmake/Python.cmake b/cmake/Python.cmake
index f240896b1..262c91f38 100644
--- a/cmake/Python.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Python.cmake
@@ -16,4 +16,20 @@ function(find_python)
     Python 3.8 REQUIRED
     COMPONENTS Interpreter Development.Module
     OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS Development.SABIModule)
+
+  if(BUILD_MQT_CORE_BINDINGS)
+    if(NOT SKBUILD)
+      # Manually detect the installed pybind11 package and import it into CMake.
+      execute_process(
+        COMMAND "${Python_EXECUTABLE}" -m pybind11 --cmakedir
+        OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
+        OUTPUT_VARIABLE pybind11_DIR)
+      list(APPEND CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH "${pybind11_DIR}")
+    endif()
+
+    message(STATUS "Python executable: ${Python_EXECUTABLE}")
+
+    # add pybind11 library
+    find_package(pybind11 CONFIG REQUIRED)
+  endif()
 endfunction()