diff --git a/deps/zlib.cmake b/deps/zlib.cmake
index b2f92fb6..03cd234b 100644
--- a/deps/zlib.cmake
+++ b/deps/zlib.cmake
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 set(ZLIB_BUILD_EXAMPLES OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
 add_subdirectory(zlib)
 target_compile_definitions(zlibstatic PUBLIC ZLIB_CONST=1)
-target_include_directories(zlibstatic PUBLIC ${zlib_SOURCE_DIR} ${zlib_BINARY_DIR})
\ No newline at end of file
+target_include_directories(zlibstatic PUBLIC ${zlib_SOURCE_DIR} ${zlib_BINARY_DIR})
+
+if (TARGET zlib)
+    # Remove all properties and dependencies from the zlib shared lib target
+    # (this will keep the zlibstatic target)
+    set_target_properties(zlib PROPERTIES EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL TRUE)
+    set_target_properties(zlib PROPERTIES EXCLUDE_FROM_DEFAULT_BUILD TRUE)
+    message(STATUS "Target 'zlib' has been disabled.")
+endif()