--- a/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake
@@ -44,17 +44,6 @@ else()
   # end of compatibility block
 
   if(Protobuf_FOUND)
-    if(TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf)
-      add_library(libprotobuf INTERFACE)
-      target_link_libraries(libprotobuf INTERFACE protobuf::libprotobuf)
-    else()
-      add_library(libprotobuf UNKNOWN IMPORTED)
-      set_target_properties(libprotobuf PROPERTIES
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION "${Protobuf_LIBRARY}"
-        INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}"
-      )
-      get_protobuf_version(Protobuf_VERSION "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}")
-    endif()
     set(HAVE_PROTOBUF TRUE)
   endif()
 endif()
--- a/modules/dnn/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/modules/dnn/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ endif()
 
 ocv_module_include_directories(${fw_inc} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/src/ocl4dnn/include ${OPENCL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 ocv_glob_module_sources(SOURCES ${fw_srcs})
-ocv_create_module(libprotobuf ${LAPACK_LIBRARIES})
+ocv_create_module()
 ocv_add_samples()
 ocv_add_accuracy_tests()
 ocv_add_perf_tests()