diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 144395d4..2bc0f76b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -262,8 +262,11 @@ else()
     set(pc_libraries "${pc_libraries} -lrt")
   endif()
   find_library(MI_LIBATOMIC atomic)
-  if (MI_LIBATOMIC OR MI_USE_LIBATOMIC) 
-    list(APPEND mi_libraries atomic)
+  if (NOT MI_LIBATOMIC AND MI_USE_LIBATOMIC) 
+    set(MI_LIBATOMIC atomic)
+  endif()
+  if (MI_LIBATOMIC) 
+    list(APPEND mi_libraries ${MI_LIBATOMIC})
     set(pc_libraries "${pc_libraries} -latomic")
   endif()
 endif()