diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/ML-HDNNP.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/ML-HDNNP.cmake
index e25847c279..e27b3a1410 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/ML-HDNNP.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/ML-HDNNP.cmake
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ if(DOWNLOAD_N2P2)
     # get path to MPI include directory when cross-compiling to windows
     if((CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL Windows) AND CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING)
       get_target_property(N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE MPI::MPI_CXX INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
-      set(N2P2_PROJECT_OPTIONS "-I ${N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE} -DMPICH_SKIP_MPICXX=1")
+      set(N2P2_PROJECT_OPTIONS "-I${N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE}")
       set(MPI_CXX_COMPILER ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER})
     endif()
     if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "Intel")
       get_target_property(N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE MPI::MPI_CXX INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
-      set(N2P2_PROJECT_OPTIONS "-I ${N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE} -DMPICH_SKIP_MPICXX=1")
+      set(N2P2_PROJECT_OPTIONS "-I${N2P2_MPI_INCLUDE}")
       set(MPI_CXX_COMPILER ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER})
     endif()
   endif()