diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index bc33da60de..48557a43f3 100644
--- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ add_definitions(-DLAMMPS_MEMALIGN=${LAMMPS_MEMALIGN})
 option(LAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS "enable the use of C++ exceptions for error messages (useful for library interface)" OFF)
 if(LAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS)
   add_definitions(-DLAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS)
-  set(LAMMPS_API_DEFINES "${LAMMPS_API_DEFINES -DLAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS")
+  set(LAMMPS_API_DEFINES "${LAMMPS_API_DEFINES} -DLAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS")
 endif()
 
 set(LAMMPS_MACHINE "" CACHE STRING "Suffix to append to lmp binary and liblammps (WON'T enable any features automatically")
@@ -665,7 +665,9 @@ include_directories(${LAMMPS_STYLE_HEADERS_DIR})
 ############################################
 add_library(lammps ${LIB_SOURCES})
 target_link_libraries(lammps ${LAMMPS_LINK_LIBS})
-add_dependencies(lammps ${LAMMPS_DEPS})
+if(LAMMPS_DEPS)
+  add_dependencies(lammps ${LAMMPS_DEPS})
+endif()
 set_target_properties(lammps PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME lammps${LAMMPS_MACHINE})
 if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
   set_target_properties(lammps PROPERTIES SOVERSION ${SOVERSION})