cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8) project(test_interface_link_libraries) find_package(Qt5Gui REQUIRED) set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON) set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_CURRENT_DIR ON) cmake_policy(SET CMP0022 NEW) include(GenerateExportHeader) add_library(somelib SHARED somelib.cpp) generate_export_header(somelib) set_property(TARGET somelib PROPERTY LINK_LIBRARIES Qt5::Gui) set_property(TARGET somelib PROPERTY INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES Qt5::Gui) add_executable(mainexe main.cpp) set_property(TARGET mainexe PROPERTY LINK_LIBRARIES somelib)