diff --git a/cmake/OpenCVUtils.cmake b/cmake/OpenCVUtils.cmake
index d03dc9c551..1e0ea947ef 100644
--- a/cmake/OpenCVUtils.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVUtils.cmake
@@ -1488,8 +1488,8 @@ function(ocv_target_link_libraries target)
       if(NOT LINK_PENDING STREQUAL "")
         __ocv_push_target_link_libraries(${LINK_MODE} ${LINK_PENDING})
         set(LINK_PENDING "")
-        set(LINK_MODE "${dep}")
       endif()
+      set(LINK_MODE "${dep}")
     else()
       if(BUILD_opencv_world)
         if(OPENCV_MODULE_${dep}_IS_PART_OF_WORLD)