diff --git a/contrib/ci/check-license.py b/contrib/ci/check-license.py
index 842002a42..c43a10dba 100755
--- a/contrib/ci/check-license.py
+++ b/contrib/ci/check-license.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def __get_license(fn: str) -> str:
 def test_files() -> int:
 
     rc: int = 0
-    ignore = ""
+    build_dir = ""
 
     for fn in glob.glob("**/*.[c|h|py|sh]", recursive=True):
         if "meson-private" in fn:
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ def test_files() -> int:
         if os.path.isdir(fn):
             continue
         if "config.h" in fn:
-            ignore = os.path.dirname(fn)
+            build_dir = os.path.dirname(fn)
             continue
-        if fn.startswith(ignore):
+        if build_dir and fn.startswith(build_dir):
+            continue
+        if fn.startswith("subprojects"):
             continue
         lic = __get_license(fn)
         if not lic: