diff --git a/zephyr/CMakeLists.txt b/zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
index 40aaf5ed7..629f840ca 100644
--- a/zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,6 +60,25 @@ get_filename_component(RIMAGE_CONFIG "../rimage/config" ABSOLUTE)
 set(RIMAGE_CONFIG_PATH ${RIMAGE_CONFIG} CACHE PATH
     " Path to rimage board configuration files")
 
+include(ExternalProject)
+
+ExternalProject_Add(smex_ep
+	SOURCE_DIR "${ZEPHYR_SOF_MODULE_DIR}/smex/"
+	# The default paths are very "deep"
+	PREFIX     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/smex_ep"
+	BINARY_DIR "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/smex_ep/build"
+	INSTALL_COMMAND "" # need smex only at build time
+)
+
+ExternalProject_Add(sof_logger_ep
+	SOURCE_DIR "${ZEPHYR_SOF_MODULE_DIR}/tools/"
+	# The default paths are very "deep"
+	PREFIX     "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/sof-logger_ep"
+	BINARY_DIR "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/sof-logger_ep/build"
+	BUILD_COMMAND cmake --build . --target sof-logger
+	INSTALL_COMMAND ""
+)
+
 # default SOF includes
 target_include_directories(SOF INTERFACE ../rimage/src/include)
 target_include_directories(SOF INTERFACE ../zephyr/include)