diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index bc33da60de..666b77ae3d 100644
--- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -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})