diff --git a/cmake/libssh2-config.cmake.in b/cmake/libssh2-config.cmake.in
index edc86d7..fd53d55 100644
--- a/cmake/libssh2-config.cmake.in
+++ b/cmake/libssh2-config.cmake.in
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 
 include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
+set(_libssh2_cmake_module_path_save "${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH}")
 list(PREPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR})
 
 if("@CRYPTO_BACKEND@" STREQUAL "OpenSSL")
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ elseif("@CRYPTO_BACKEND@" STREQUAL "Libgcrypt")
 elseif("@CRYPTO_BACKEND@" STREQUAL "mbedTLS")
   find_dependency(MbedTLS)
 endif()
+set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${_libssh2_cmake_module_path_save})
 
 if(@ZLIB_FOUND@)
   find_dependency(ZLIB)
@@ -22,10 +24,22 @@ include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/@PROJECT_NAME@-targets.cmake")
 
 # Alias for either shared or static library
 if(NOT TARGET @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@)
+ if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.18.0")
+  # cannot add alias to non-global imported library
+  add_library(@PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@ INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+  set_target_properties(@PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@ PROPERTIES INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_SELECTED@)
+ else()
   add_library(@PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@ ALIAS @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_SELECTED@)
+ endif()
 endif()
 
 # Compatibility alias
 if(NOT TARGET Libssh2::@LIB_NAME@)
+ if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.18.0")
+  # cannot add alias to non-global imported library
+  add_library(Libssh2::@LIB_NAME@ INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+  set_target_properties(Libssh2::@LIB_NAME@ PROPERTIES INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_SELECTED@)
+ else()
   add_library(Libssh2::@LIB_NAME@ ALIAS @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_SELECTED@)
+ endif()
 endif()