diff --git a/code/CMakeLists.txt b/code/CMakeLists.txt
index 9b2708623..fb0fbc742 100644
--- a/code/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ ENDIF() # IF (ASSIMP_BUILD_USD_IMPORTER)
 IF(ASSIMP_HUNTER_ENABLED)
   hunter_add_package(pugixml)
   find_package(pugixml CONFIG REQUIRED)
-ELSE()
+ELSEIF(NOT TARGET pugixml::pugixml)
   SET( Pugixml_SRCS
     ../contrib/pugixml/src/pugiconfig.hpp
     ../contrib/pugixml/src/pugixml.hpp
@@ -1439,6 +1439,9 @@ ELSE()
   if (ASSIMP_BUILD_DRACO)
     target_link_libraries(assimp ${draco_LIBRARIES})
   endif()
+  if(TARGET pugixml::pugixml)
+    target_link_libraries(assimp pugixml::pugixml)
+  endif()
 ENDIF()
 
 if(ASSIMP_ANDROID_JNIIOSYSTEM)