diff --git a/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake b/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake
index b9171f14f0..289fa60641 100644
--- a/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVFindProtobuf.cmake
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ else()
       add_library(libprotobuf UNKNOWN IMPORTED)
       set_target_properties(libprotobuf PROPERTIES
         IMPORTED_LOCATION "${Protobuf_LIBRARY}"
-        INTERFACE_INCLUDE_SYSTEM_DIRECTORIES "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}"
+        INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}"
+        INTERFACE_SYSTEM_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}"
       )
       get_protobuf_version(Protobuf_VERSION "${Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIR}")
     endif()