diff --git a/lib/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index 13b41c5..6a66e5a 100644
--- a/lib/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -182,11 +182,17 @@
 
 if(WITH_ZLIB)
     find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
     ADD_LIBRARY_THRIFT(thriftz ${thriftcppz_SOURCES})
     target_link_libraries(thriftz PUBLIC thrift)
-    target_link_libraries(thriftz PUBLIC ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
+
+    if(TARGET ZLIB::ZLIB)
+        target_link_libraries(thriftz PUBLIC ZLIB::ZLIB)
+    else()
+        include_directories(SYSTEM ${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+        target_link_libraries(thriftz PUBLIC ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
+    endif()
+
     ADD_PKGCONFIG_THRIFT(thrift-z)
 endif()