diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index da69699..3a9b844 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2042,8 +2042,10 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
     set(LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS   "")
   else()
     set(ENABLE_SHARED       "no")
+    set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "") # flattened into LIBCURL_PC_LIBS 
     set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES "${LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE}")
     set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS     "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE}")
+    set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "") #  in LIBCURL_PC_LIBS 
     set(LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS   "${LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS_PRIVATE}")
   endif()
   if(BUILD_STATIC_LIBS)