diff --git a/.github/workflows/cmake.yml b/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
index a6a70bf1..58452528 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cmake.yml
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get install intel-oneapi-mkl-devel
           echo "BLAS_PREFERENCE_LIST=IntelMKL" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "MKLROOT=/opt/intel/oneapi/mkl/latest" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "MKL_NUM_THREADS=1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         else
           echo "BLAS_PREFERENCE_LIST=ReferenceBLAS" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         fi
diff --git a/external/boost.cmake b/external/boost.cmake
index 40487334..1611011c 100644
--- a/external/boost.cmake
+++ b/external/boost.cmake
@@ -1,29 +1,27 @@
 # -*- mode: cmake -*-
 
-# Boost can be discovered by every (sub)package but only the top package can build it ...
-# if we are the top package need to include the list of Boost components to be built
-if("${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}" STREQUAL "${PROJECT_NAME}")
-  set(required_components
-          headers           # BTAS
-          container         # BTAS
-          iterator          # BTAS
-          random            # BTAS
-  )
-  if (DEFINED Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS)
-    list(APPEND Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS ${required_components})
-    list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS)
-  else()
-    set(Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS "${required_components}" CACHE STRING "Required components of Boost to discovered or built")
-  endif()
-  set(optional_components
-          serialization # BTAS
-  )
-  if (DEFINED Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS)
-    list(APPEND Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS ${optional_components})
-    list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS)
-  else()
-    set(Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS "${optional_components}" CACHE STRING "Optional components of Boost to discovered or built")
-  endif()
+# Boost can be discovered by every (sub)package but only the top package can *build* it ...
+# in either case must declare the components used by BTAS
+set(required_components
+        headers           # BTAS
+        container         # BTAS
+        iterator          # BTAS
+        random            # BTAS
+)
+if (DEFINED Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS)
+  list(APPEND Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS ${required_components})
+  list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS)
+else()
+  set(Boost_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS "${required_components}" CACHE STRING "Required components of Boost to discovered or built")
+endif()
+set(optional_components
+        serialization # BTAS
+)
+if (DEFINED Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS)
+  list(APPEND Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS ${optional_components})
+  list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS)
+else()
+  set(Boost_OPTIONAL_COMPONENTS "${optional_components}" CACHE STRING "Optional components of Boost to discovered or built")
 endif()
 
 if (BTAS_BUILD_DEPS_FROM_SOURCE AND NOT DEFINED Boost_FETCH_IF_MISSING)
diff --git a/external/versions.cmake b/external/versions.cmake
index 2c5257b5..cf7f8470 100644
--- a/external/versions.cmake
+++ b/external/versions.cmake
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-set(BTAS_TRACKED_VGCMAKEKIT_TAG 8713beb71ff6b7d4b1c758e9e1c7d814bd97b0af)
+set(BTAS_TRACKED_VGCMAKEKIT_TAG 45e7d0d8d7f994a88c5af5fc082332db7bd0d6b3)
 
 # likely can use earlier, but
 # - as of oct 2023 tested with 1.71 and up only