diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 37e8976..93ed8d2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@
         set(THRIFT_COMPILER $<TARGET_FILE:thrift-compiler>)
     endif()
     add_subdirectory(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/compiler/cpp)
+elseif(EXISTS ${THRIFT_COMPILER})
+    add_executable(thrift-compiler IMPORTED)
+    set_property(TARGET thrift-compiler PROPERTY IMPORTED_LOCATION ${THRIFT_COMPILER})
 endif()
 
 if(BUILD_CPP)