diff --git a/cmake/onnxruntime_providers_cuda.cmake b/cmake/onnxruntime_providers_cuda.cmake
index 1346a9ce968c6..46bc5fb3bd1ac 100644
--- a/cmake/onnxruntime_providers_cuda.cmake
+++ b/cmake/onnxruntime_providers_cuda.cmake
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
     # CUDA 11.3+ supports parallel compilation
     # https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-compiler-driver-nvcc/index.html#options-for-guiding-compiler-driver-threads
     if (CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 11.3)
-      option(onnxruntime_NVCC_THREADS "Number of threads that NVCC can use for compilation." 1)
+      set(onnxruntime_NVCC_THREADS "1" CACHE STRING "Number of threads that NVCC can use for compilation.")
       target_compile_options(${target} PRIVATE "$<$<COMPILE_LANGUAGE:CUDA>:SHELL:--threads \"${onnxruntime_NVCC_THREADS}\">")
     endif()