diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index e4a676e918..f3b44fac06 100644
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ create_target_directory_groups(core)
 target_link_libraries(core PUBLIC common PRIVATE audio_core video_core)
 target_link_libraries(core PUBLIC Boost::boost PRIVATE fmt lz4_static mbedtls opus unicorn open_source_archives)
 if (ENABLE_WEB_SERVICE)
-    add_definitions(-DENABLE_WEB_SERVICE)
+    target_compile_definitions(core PRIVATE -DENABLE_WEB_SERVICE)
     target_link_libraries(core PUBLIC json-headers web_service)
 endif()