diff --git a/CMake/fl_create_example.cmake b/CMake/fl_create_example.cmake
index 72819ebea..3f1398526 100644
--- a/CMake/fl_create_example.cmake
+++ b/CMake/fl_create_example.cmake
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@ macro (CREATE_EXAMPLE NAME SOURCES LIBRARIES)
 
   if (FLTK_HAVE_CAIRO)
     if (CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.13")
-      link_directories (${TARGET_NAME} PUBLIC ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+      link_directories    (${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
     else()
-      target_link_directories (${TARGET_NAME} PUBLIC ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+      target_link_directories (${TARGET_NAME} PRIVATE ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
     endif()
   endif (FLTK_HAVE_CAIRO)
 
diff --git a/fluid/CMakeLists.txt b/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
index 1ca8dd8ef..de6788ea9 100644
--- a/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ endif (APPLE AND (NOT OPTION_APPLE_X11))
 target_link_libraries (fluid fltk fltk_images fltk_forms)
 if (FLTK_HAVE_CAIRO)
   if (CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.13")
-    link_directories (fluid PUBLIC ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+    link_directories (${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
   else()
-    target_link_directories (fluid PUBLIC ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+    target_link_directories (fluid PRIVATE ${PKG_CAIRO_LIBRARY_DIRS})
   endif()
 endif (FLTK_HAVE_CAIRO)