diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dcab1c28..0a05ebb1 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ target_include_directories(nglib PRIVATE ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 if(USE_GUI)
     target_include_directories(nggui PRIVATE ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 endif(USE_GUI)
-target_link_libraries(nglib PUBLIC ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
+target_link_libraries(nglib PRIVATE ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
 
 #######################################################################
 if(WIN32)