diff --git a/cmake/platforms/windows.cmake b/cmake/platforms/windows.cmake
index a7ed7c7c..481809ec 100644
--- a/cmake/platforms/windows.cmake
+++ b/cmake/platforms/windows.cmake
@@ -101,14 +101,12 @@ endif()
 
 if(WINELIB)
   enable_language(RC)
-  set(LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO "")
 elseif(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "MSVC" OR
        CMAKE_C_COMPILER_FRONTEND_VARIANT MATCHES "MSVC")
   set(CMAKE_RC_FLAGS "${CMAKE_RC_FLAGS} /nologo /C1252")
-  set(LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO "/manifest:no")
+  set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} /manifest:no")
 else()
   set(CMAKE_RC_FLAGS "${CMAKE_RC_FLAGS} -c1252")
-  set(LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO "")
 endif()
 
 if(STRICT)
diff --git a/windows/CMakeLists.txt b/windows/CMakeLists.txt
index 7e16b0f4..aefcb9d2 100644
--- a/windows/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/windows/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -83,9 +83,7 @@ add_dependencies(pageant generated_licence_h)
 target_link_libraries(pageant
   guimisc eventloop agent network crypto utils
   ${platform_libraries})
-set_target_properties(pageant PROPERTIES
-  WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON
-  LINK_FLAGS "${LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO}")
+set_target_properties(pageant PROPERTIES WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON)
 installed_program(pageant)
 
 add_sources_from_current_dir(plink no-jump-list.c nohelp.c plink.rc)
@@ -111,9 +109,7 @@ target_link_libraries(putty
   guiterminal guimisc eventloop sshclient otherbackends settings network crypto
   utils
   ${platform_libraries})
-set_target_properties(putty PROPERTIES
-  WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON
-  LINK_FLAGS "${LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO}")
+set_target_properties(putty PROPERTIES WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON)
 installed_program(putty)
 
 add_executable(puttytel
@@ -132,9 +128,7 @@ add_dependencies(puttytel generated_licence_h)
 target_link_libraries(puttytel
   guiterminal guimisc eventloop otherbackends settings network utils
   ${platform_libraries})
-set_target_properties(puttytel PROPERTIES
-  WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON
-  LINK_FLAGS "${LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO}")
+set_target_properties(puttytel PROPERTIES WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON)
 installed_program(puttytel)
 
 add_executable(puttygen
@@ -152,9 +146,7 @@ add_dependencies(puttygen generated_licence_h)
 target_link_libraries(puttygen
   keygen guimisc crypto utils
   ${platform_libraries})
-set_target_properties(puttygen PROPERTIES
-  WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON
-  LINK_FLAGS "${LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO}")
+set_target_properties(puttygen PROPERTIES WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON)
 installed_program(puttygen)
 
 if(HAVE_CONPTY)
@@ -174,9 +166,7 @@ if(HAVE_CONPTY)
   target_link_libraries(pterm
     guiterminal guimisc eventloop settings network utils
     ${platform_libraries})
-  set_target_properties(pterm PROPERTIES
-    WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON
-    LINK_FLAGS "${LFLAG_MANIFEST_NO}")
+  set_target_properties(pterm PROPERTIES WIN32_EXECUTABLE ON)
   installed_program(pterm)
 else()
   message("ConPTY not available; cannot build Windows pterm")