diff --git a/lib/vulkan.cmake b/lib/vulkan.cmake
index 2e705d27ea2..6d451cafa83 100644
--- a/lib/vulkan.cmake
+++ b/lib/vulkan.cmake
@@ -93,8 +93,6 @@ endif ()
 
 option(VULKAN_USE_PRECOMPILED "Force use of precompiled versions of Vulkan-Loader and Shaderc." OFF)
 
-get_prebuilt_path(PREBUILT_PATH)
-
 set(USING_PREBUILT_VULKAN ${VULKAN_USE_PRECOMPILED})
 
 if(PLATFORM_WINDOWS OR PLATFORM_MAC)
@@ -103,6 +101,10 @@ elseif(PLATFORM_LINUX AND FSO_BUILD_APPIMAGE)
 	set(USING_PREBUILT_VULKAN TRUE)
 endif()
 
+if(USING_PREBUILT_VULKAN)
+	get_prebuilt_path(PREBUILT_PATH)
+endif()
+
 # Shaderc - runtime compilation of glsl to SPIRV
 #
 # This is dynamically loaded, so we don't have to link against it. That also
@@ -154,15 +156,15 @@ endif()
 
 # Vulkan/Shaderc headers
 # 
-# Use prebuilt if we should, or just as a fallback if the SDK isn't installed.
+# Use prebuilt if we should, otherwise require that the headers/loader be available.
 # The find_package() min version should be what is used in the prebuilt repo.
 # Note that we only rely on the headers and do NOT link against the Vulkan libs!
 
 if(NOT USING_PREBUILT_VULKAN)
-	find_package(Vulkan 1.4.341)
+	find_package(Vulkan 1.4.341 REQUIRED)
 endif()
 
-# prebuilt/fallback
+# prebuilt
 if(NOT TARGET Vulkan::Headers)
 	add_library(VulkanHeaders INTERFACE)