diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index 2d59b9160e..de65e85516 100644
--- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Modules)
 
 # make sure LIBRARY_PATH is set if environment variable is set
 if (DEFINED ENV{LIBRARY_PATH})
-  set(CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH "$ENV{LIBRARY_PATH};${CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH}")
-  message(STATUS "Setting CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH to ${CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH}")
+  list(APPEND CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH "$ENV{LIBRARY_PATH}")
+  message(STATUS "Appending $ENV{LIBRARY_PATH} to CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH: ${CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH}")
 endif()
 
 include(LAMMPSUtils)