diff --git a/cmake/nuttx_add_application.cmake b/cmake/nuttx_add_application.cmake
index e17b32ad980..efee621dda7 100644
--- a/cmake/nuttx_add_application.cmake
+++ b/cmake/nuttx_add_application.cmake
@@ -233,9 +233,8 @@ function(nuttx_add_application)
     endif()
 
     if(INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
-      foreach(inc ${INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES})
-        target_include_directories(${TARGET} BEFORE PRIVATE ${inc})
-      endforeach()
+      target_include_directories(${TARGET} BEFORE
+                                 PRIVATE ${INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES})
     endif()
   endif()