diff --git a/src/lib_proj.cmake b/src/lib_proj.cmake
index 2e90f98f..dc171e91 100644
--- a/src/lib_proj.cmake
+++ b/src/lib_proj.cmake
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ if(USE_THREAD AND Threads_FOUND AND CMAKE_USE_PTHREADS_INIT)
 endif()
 
 include_directories(${SQLITE3_INCLUDE_DIR})
-target_link_libraries(${PROJ_CORE_TARGET} ${SQLITE3_LIBRARY})
+target_link_libraries(${PROJ_CORE_TARGET} PRIVATE ${SQLITE3_LIBRARY})
 
 if(MSVC AND BUILD_LIBPROJ_SHARED)
   target_compile_definitions(${PROJ_CORE_TARGET}