diff --git a/cpp/cmake_modules/FindProtobufAlt.cmake b/cpp/cmake_modules/FindProtobufAlt.cmake
index f343b42f2b762..98a3281ee475b 100644
--- a/cpp/cmake_modules/FindProtobufAlt.cmake
+++ b/cpp/cmake_modules/FindProtobufAlt.cmake
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ endif()
 find_package(protobuf CONFIG ${find_package_args})
 set(ProtobufAlt_FOUND ${protobuf_FOUND})
 if(ProtobufAlt_FOUND)
+  if(Protobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE)
+    # work around https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/issues/14576
+    set_target_properties(protobuf::protoc PROPERTIES
+    IMPORTED_LOCATION_RELEASE "${Protobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE}"
+  )
+  endif()
   set(ProtobufAlt_VERSION ${protobuf_VERSION})
   set(ProtobufAlt_VERSION_MAJOR ${protobuf_VERSION_MAJOR})
   set(ProtobufAlt_VERSION_MINOR ${protobuf_VERSION_MINOR})