diff --git a/cmake/TaichiCore.cmake b/cmake/TaichiCore.cmake
index 5a9efd9672e5c..b106039ac8a1c 100644
--- a/cmake/TaichiCore.cmake
+++ b/cmake/TaichiCore.cmake
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ if (TI_WITH_OPENGL OR TI_WITH_VULKAN AND NOT ANDROID)
   endif()
 
   message("Building with GLFW")
-  target_compile_definitions(${CORE_LIBRARY_NAME} PRIVATE TI_WITH_GLFW)
+  add_compile_definitions(TI_WITH_GLFW)
   add_subdirectory(external/glfw)
   target_link_libraries(${CORE_LIBRARY_NAME} PRIVATE glfw)
   target_include_directories(${CORE_LIBRARY_NAME} PUBLIC external/glfw/include)