diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.h b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.h
index 99f33e5fc0..92e6a29097 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalGenerator.h
@@ -358,6 +358,10 @@ public:
 
   virtual bool IsIPOSupported() const { return false; }
 
+  /** Return whether the generator can import external visual studio project
+      using INCLUDE_EXTERNAL_MSPROJECT */
+  virtual bool IsIncludeExternalMSProjectSupported() const { return false; }
+
   /** Return whether the generator should use EFFECTIVE_PLATFORM_NAME. This is
       relevant for mixed macOS and iOS builds. */
   virtual bool UseEffectivePlatformName(cmMakefile*) const { return false; }
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
index 55a6813c0d..f4fc3cf9f4 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudioGenerator.h
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ public:
   /** Return true if building for Windows CE */
   virtual bool TargetsWindowsCE() const { return false; }
 
+  bool IsIncludeExternalMSProjectSupported() const override { return true; }
+
   class TargetSet : public std::set<cmGeneratorTarget const*>
   {
   };
diff --git a/Source/cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand.cxx b/Source/cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand.cxx
index bd16b1d92a..85e8cd3631 100644
--- a/Source/cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand.cxx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
+#include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmStateTypes.h"
 #include "cmSystemTools.h"
@@ -22,7 +23,9 @@ bool cmIncludeExternalMSProjectCommand::InitialPass(
   }
 // only compile this for win32 to avoid coverage errors
 #ifdef _WIN32
-  if (this->Makefile->GetDefinition("WIN32")) {
+  if (this->Makefile->GetDefinition("WIN32") ||
+      this->Makefile->GetGlobalGenerator()
+        ->IsIncludeExternalMSProjectSupported()) {
     enum Doing
     {
       DoingNone,