diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3dd275d..14d0bb6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ endif()
 # set fetch content base directory
 set(FETCHCONTENT_BASE_DIR ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/external_cmake)
 
+# prefer -pthread instead of -lpthread or -lpthreads
+set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG TRUE)
+
 include(ExternalAbseil)
 include(ExternalBlake3)
 include(ExternalFmt)