diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c0c1bfef94..3c879b8958 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt	
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ target_link_libraries(boost_process
     Boost::asio
     Boost::config
     Boost::core
-    Boost::filesystem
+    $<TARGET_NAME_IF_EXISTS:Boost::filesystem>
     Boost::fusion
     Boost::iterator
     Boost::move
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ target_compile_definitions(boost_process
         PRIVATE BOOST_PROCESS_SOURCE=1
 )
 
+if(NOT TARGET Boost::filesystem)
+  set(BOOST_PROCESS_USE_STD_FS ON)
+  target_compile_features(boost_process PUBLIC cxx_std_17)
+endif()
+
 if (BOOST_PROCESS_USE_STD_FS)
   target_compile_definitions(boost_process PUBLIC BOOST_PROCESS_USE_STD_FS=1 )
 else()