diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8d347619b..852f14751 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ if(USE_SUBMODULE_LIBS)
   set(protobuf_INSTALL OFF)
 
   add_subdirectory(third_party/grpc ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/grpc)
-  add_subdirectory(third_party/gtest ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/gtest)
+  set(gtest_force_shared_crt ON CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+  add_subdirectory(third_party/gtest ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/gtest EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
   add_subdirectory(third_party/json ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/json)
   add_subdirectory(third_party/utfcpp ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/utfcpp)