diff --git a/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
index 0983ce1314..199ab7d378 100644
--- a/lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ if(NOT BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     set_target_properties(${LIB_NAME} PROPERTIES INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS CURL_STATICLIB)
 endif()
 
-target_link_libraries(${LIB_NAME} ${CURL_LIBS})
+target_link_libraries(${LIB_NAME} PRIVATE ${CURL_LIBS})
 
 set_target_properties(${LIB_NAME} PROPERTIES
   COMPILE_DEFINITIONS BUILDING_LIBCURL