diff --git a/deps/CMakeLists.txt b/deps/CMakeLists.txt
index f251ae34ed..137ad31d82 100644
--- a/deps/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/deps/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ endif(${BUILD_TEST})
 add_subdirectory(cJson)
 target_include_directories(
     cjson
-    PUBLIC ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cJson
+    # see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25676277/cmake-target-include-directories-prints-an-error-when-i-try-to-add-the-source
+    PUBLIC $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cJson>
 )
 add_subdirectory(lz4/build/cmake)
 add_subdirectory(zlib)