diff --git a/esma_add_subdirectories.cmake b/esma_add_subdirectories.cmake
index 80a4eda..69bc4f6 100644
--- a/esma_add_subdirectories.cmake
+++ b/esma_add_subdirectories.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Only add the directories in alldirs list that actually exist.  GEOS
 # can build in multiple configurations, and the build system must be
-# able to skip non-existent directiories in the list.
+# able to skip non-existent directories in the list.
 
 # We allow nested repositories to have leading or trailing "@" in their
 # name which is disregarded for everything except path.
@@ -21,20 +21,23 @@ function  (esma_add_subdirectory dir)
 	set (${ARGS_FOUND} TRUE PARENT_SCOPE)
       endif()
       return()
-    else ()
-      if (ARGS_FOUND)
-	set (${ARGS_FOUND} FALSE PARENT_SCOPE)
-      else ()
-	ecbuild_warn(" directory not found ${dir}")
-      endif()
-      endif ()
+    endif()
   endforeach()
 
+  # dir not found
+  if (ARGS_FOUND)
+    set (${ARGS_FOUND} FALSE PARENT_SCOPE)
+  else ()
+    # The below should be changed to ecbuild_error() once the FOUND option
+    # is propagated through client code.
+    ecbuild_info(" directory not found ${dir} (possibly sparse checkout)")
+  endif()
+
 endfunction (esma_add_subdirectory)
 
 function (esma_add_subdirectories dirs)
   set (dirs_ ${dirs} ${ARGN})
-    ecbuild_info ("esma_add_subdirectiories:  ${dirs}")
+    ecbuild_debug ("esma_add_subdirectories:  ${dirs}")
   foreach (subdir ${dirs_})
     esma_add_subdirectory(${subdir})
   endforeach()