diff --git a/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils.py b/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 96bce84d6..000000000
--- a/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-import os
-
-import metatensor.torch
-
-import rascaline
-
-
-_HERE = os.path.realpath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
-
-_rascaline_torch_cmake_prefix = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "lib", "cmake")
-
-cmake_prefix_path = ";".join(
-    [
-        _rascaline_torch_cmake_prefix,
-        rascaline.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
-        metatensor.torch.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
-    ]
-)
-"""
-Path containing the CMake configuration files for the underlying C library
-"""
diff --git a/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils/__init__.py b/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils/__init__.py
index bc31628b9..3a73c2d20 100644
--- a/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/python/rascaline-torch/rascaline/torch/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,13 @@
+import os
+
 from .power_spectrum import PowerSpectrum
 
 
+_HERE = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+
+cmake_prefix_path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(_HERE, "..", "lib", "cmake"))
+"""
+Path containing the CMake configuration files for the underlying C library
+"""
+
 __all__ = ["PowerSpectrum"]
diff --git a/python/rascaline-torch/setup.py b/python/rascaline-torch/setup.py
index dcce11623..0d357482e 100644
--- a/python/rascaline-torch/setup.py
+++ b/python/rascaline-torch/setup.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class cmake_ext(build_ext):
     """Build the native library using cmake"""
 
     def run(self):
+        import metatensor
         import metatensor.torch
         import torch
 
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ def run(self):
         # Tell CMake where to find rascaline & torch
         cmake_prefix_path = [
             rascaline.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
+            metatensor.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
             metatensor.torch.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
             torch.utils.cmake_prefix_path,
         ]
diff --git a/python/rascaline-torch/tests/utils/cmake_prefix.py b/python/rascaline-torch/tests/utils/cmake_prefix.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6172a3bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/rascaline-torch/tests/utils/cmake_prefix.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import os
+
+import rascaline.torch
+
+
+def test_cmake_prefix():
+    assert os.path.exists(rascaline.torch.utils.cmake_prefix_path)
diff --git a/python/rascaline/rascaline/utils/__init__.py b/python/rascaline/rascaline/utils/__init__.py
index b5e6221e0..8f0f588a8 100644
--- a/python/rascaline/rascaline/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/python/rascaline/rascaline/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import os
 
-import metatensor
-
 from .power_spectrum import PowerSpectrum  # noqa
 from .splines import (  # noqa
     AtomicDensityBase,
@@ -19,11 +17,9 @@
 )
 
 
-# path that can be used with cmake to access the rascaline library and headers
-_HERE = os.path.realpath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+_HERE = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
-_rascaline_cmake_prefix = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(_HERE, "..", "lib", "cmake"))
-cmake_prefix_path = f"{_rascaline_cmake_prefix};{metatensor.utils.cmake_prefix_path}"
+cmake_prefix_path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(_HERE, "..", "lib", "cmake"))
 """
 Path containing the CMake configuration files for the underlying C library
 """