diff --git a/.CMake/compiler_opts.cmake b/.CMake/compiler_opts.cmake
index 083529b32c..33fd2c24db 100644
--- a/.CMake/compiler_opts.cmake
+++ b/.CMake/compiler_opts.cmake
@@ -104,10 +104,8 @@ if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "Clang")
         add_link_options("-Wl,-z,noexecstack")
     endif()
 
-    if(NOT ${OQS_BUILD_ONLY_LIB})
-        set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG ON)
-        find_package(Threads)
-    endif()
+    set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG ON)
+    find_package(Threads)
 
     if(${OQS_DEBUG_BUILD})
         add_compile_options(-g3)
@@ -165,10 +163,8 @@ elseif(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
         endif()
     endif()
 
-    if(NOT ${OQS_BUILD_ONLY_LIB})
-        set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG ON)
-        find_package(Threads)
-    endif()
+    set(THREADS_PREFER_PTHREAD_FLAG ON)
+    find_package(Threads)
 
     if(${OQS_DEBUG_BUILD})
         add_compile_options (-Wstrict-overflow)