diff --git a/effects/CMakeLists.txt b/effects/CMakeLists.txt
index e6d6a73a35..b247db6388 100644
--- a/effects/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/effects/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ endif()
 
 macro( KWIN4_ADD_EFFECT_BACKEND name )
     add_library( ${name} SHARED ${ARGN} )
-    target_link_libraries( ${name} ${kwin_effect_OWN_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_KDE_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_QT_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_XLIB_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_XCB_LIBS})
+    target_link_libraries( ${name} PRIVATE ${kwin_effect_OWN_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_KDE_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_QT_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_XLIB_LIBS} ${kwin_effect_XCB_LIBS})
 endmacro()
 
 # Adds effect plugin with given name. Sources are given after the name