diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/USER-SMD.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/USER-SMD.cmake
index 4aa2b7ad04..98fad24e92 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/USER-SMD.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/USER-SMD.cmake
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ if(PKG_USER-SMD)
       CONFIGURE_COMMAND "" BUILD_COMMAND "" INSTALL_COMMAND ""
     )
     ExternalProject_get_property(Eigen3_build SOURCE_DIR)
-    target_include_directories(lammps PRIVATE ${SOURCE_DIR})
-    add_dependencies(lammps Eigen3_build)
+    add_library(LAMMPS::EIGEN3 INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(LAMMPS::EIGEN3 PROPERTIES INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${SOURCE_DIR}")
+    target_link_libraries(lammps PRIVATE LAMMPS::EIGEN3)
+    add_dependencies(LAMMPS::EIGEN3 Eigen3_build)
   else()
     find_package(Eigen3 NO_MODULE)
     mark_as_advanced(Eigen3_DIR)