diff --git a/ext/CMakeLists.txt b/ext/CMakeLists.txt
index 94af81b27..b813293f5 100644
--- a/ext/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ext/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@
 
 add_subdirectory(core)
 
-set(KDDockWidgets_STATIC ON PARENT_SCOPE)
+set(KDDockWidgets_STATIC ON CACHE INTERNAL "Force KDDockWidgets to build statically")
 add_subdirectory(KDDockWidgets)