diff --git a/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake b/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
index b5437e7525..14dbbb9d3f 100644
--- a/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
@@ -57,6 +57,17 @@ if(_brotli_FOUND)
     set(_brotli_LIBRARIES    "${_brotli_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Brotli (via pkg-config): ${_brotli_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${BROTLI_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_brotli_cmake NAMES unofficial-brotli)
+  if(TARGET unofficial::brotli::brotlidec AND NOT TARGET CURL::brotli)
+    add_library(CURL::brotli INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::brotli PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_brotli_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_brotli_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES unofficial::brotli::brotlidec)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(Brotli_FOUND FALSE)
+  set(BROTLI_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(BROTLI_INCLUDE_DIR "brotli/decode.h")
   if(BROTLI_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindCares.cmake b/CMake/FindCares.cmake
index 3c05c3b2eb..b9f022cdd4 100644
--- a/CMake/FindCares.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindCares.cmake
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ if(_cares_FOUND)
     set(_cares_LIBRARIES    "${_cares_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Cares (via pkg-config): ${_cares_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${CARES_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_cares_cmake NAMES c-ares)
+  if(TARGET c-ares::cares AND NOT TARGET CURL::cares)
+    add_library(CURL::cares INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::cares PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_cares_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_cares_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES c-ares::cares)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(Cares_FOUND FALSE)
+  set(CARES_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(CARES_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "ares.h")
   if(CARES_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindGSS.cmake b/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
index e36f75bf9c..c4c7c4ad81 100644
--- a/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
@@ -269,7 +269,6 @@ if(GSS_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_gss_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_gss_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_gss_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_gss_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gss_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gss_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake b/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
index fff57b2c29..7d81acd99a 100644
--- a/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 set(_gnutls_pc_requires "gnutls")
 
+unset(GNUTLS_LIBRARY CACHE) # from shiftmedia-libgnutls cmake wrapper
 if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG AND
    NOT DEFINED GNUTLS_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED GNUTLS_LIBRARY)
@@ -90,7 +91,6 @@ if(GNUTLS_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_gnutls_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_gnutls_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_gnutls_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_gnutls_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gnutls_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gnutls_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake b/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
index 2f5cc713c7..63c1b0800f 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ if(LDAP_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_ldap_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_ldap_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_ldap_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_ldap_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_ldap_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_ldap_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake b/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
index 5ddf957d72..db462466e4 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ if(LIBGSASL_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libgsasl_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libgsasl_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libgsasl_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libgsasl_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libgsasl_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libgsasl_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake b/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
index 336a7f7b40..b2f3eaf534 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ if(LIBIDN2_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libidn2_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libidn2_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libidn2_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libidn2_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libidn2_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libidn2_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake b/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
index 9b1a0cdd97..a7fe288883 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ if(LIBPSL_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libpsl_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libpsl_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libpsl_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libpsl_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libpsl_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libpsl_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibrtmp.cmake b/CMake/FindLibrtmp.cmake
index 853ba63ad0..a9d24d9b3a 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibrtmp.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibrtmp.cmake
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ if(LIBRTMP_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_librtmp_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_librtmp_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_librtmp_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_librtmp_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_librtmp_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_librtmp_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake b/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
index abed471eb2..f07bb0226b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ if(_libssh2_FOUND AND _libssh2_INCLUDE_DIRS)
     set(_libssh2_LIBRARIES    "${_libssh2_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Libssh2 (via pkg-config): ${_libssh2_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${LIBSSH2_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_libssh2_cmake NAMES libssh2)
+  if(TARGET libssh2::libssh2 AND NOT TARGET CURL::libssh2)
+    add_library(CURL::libssh2 INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::libssh2 PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libssh2_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libssh2_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES libssh2::libssh2)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(Libssh2_FOUND FALSE)
+  set(LIBSSH2_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(LIBSSH2_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "libssh2.h")
   if(LIBSSH2_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake b/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
index 8b67ce9acf..f3c984079a 100644
--- a/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@ if(_mbedtls_FOUND)
     set(_mbedtls_LIBRARIES    "${_mbedtls_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found MbedTLS (via pkg-config): ${_mbedtls_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${MBEDTLS_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_mbedtls_cmake NAMES MbedTLS)
+  if(TARGET MbedTLS::mbedtls AND NOT TARGET CURL::mbedtls)
+    add_library(CURL::mbedtls INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::mbedtls PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_mbedtls_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_mbedtls_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES MbedTLS::mbedtls MbedTLS::mbedx509 MbedTLS::mbedcrypto)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(MbedTLS_FOUND FALSE)
+  set(MBEDTLS_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   set(_mbedtls_pc_requires "")  # Depend on pkg-config only when found via pkg-config
 
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake b/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
index b2a8c97ccd..8b3a1c72d3 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ if(NGHTTP2_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_nghttp2_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_nghttp2_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_nghttp2_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_nghttp2_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nghttp2_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nghttp2_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake b/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
index 57550bffaf..b9bd85e43b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@ if(_nghttp3_FOUND)
     set(_nghttp3_LIBRARIES    "${_nghttp3_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found NGHTTP3 (via pkg-config): ${_nghttp3_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${NGHTTP3_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_nghttp3_cmake NAMES nghttp3)
+  if((TARGET nghttp3::nghttp3 OR TARGET nghttp3::nghttp3_static) AND NOT TARGET CURL::nghttp3)
+    add_library(CURL::nghttp3 INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::nghttp3 PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nghttp3_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_nghttp3_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES $<IF:$<TARGET_EXISTS:nghttp3::nghttp3>,nghttp3::nghttp3,nghttp3::nghttp3_static>)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(NGHTTP3_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "nghttp3/nghttp3.h")
   if(NGHTTP3_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake b/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
index 615ee4a3c2..c2b0fd2e4d 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
@@ -92,6 +92,24 @@ if(_ngtcp2_FOUND)
     set(_ngtcp2_LIBRARIES    "${_ngtcp2_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found NGTCP2 (via pkg-config): ${_ngtcp2_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${NGTCP2_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_ngtcp2_cmake NAMES ngtcp2)
+  set(_ngtcp2_cmake_target ngtcp2::ngtcp2)
+  if(_ngtcp2_crypto_backend)
+    # ngtcp2::ngtcp2 is a public link library of the crypto backend.
+    set(_ngtcp2_cmake_target ngtcp2::ngtcp2_crypto_${_ngtcp2_crypto_backend})
+  endif()
+  if(TARGET ${_ngtcp2_cmake_target}_static)
+    string(APPEND _ngtcp2_cmake_target "_static")
+  endif()
+  if(TARGET ${_ngtcp2_cmake_target} AND NOT TARGET CURL::ngtcp2)
+    add_library(CURL::ngtcp2 INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::ngtcp2 PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_ngtcp2_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_ngtcp2_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES ${_ngtcp2_cmake_target})
+  endif()
+elseif(0)
+  set(NGTCP2_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(NGTCP2_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "ngtcp2/ngtcp2.h")
   if(NGTCP2_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindNettle.cmake b/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
index d22865ffad..049265bc8b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ if(NETTLE_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_nettle_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_nettle_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_nettle_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_nettle_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nettle_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nettle_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake b/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
index 3a3c05f0fd..4c1b832898 100644
--- a/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
@@ -57,6 +57,17 @@ if(_wolfssl_FOUND)
   set(WOLFSSL_FOUND TRUE)
   set(WOLFSSL_VERSION ${_wolfssl_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found WolfSSL (via pkg-config): ${_wolfssl_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${WOLFSSL_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_wolfssl_cmake NAMES wolfssl)
+  if(TARGET wolfssl::wolfssl AND NOT TARGET CURL::wolfssl)
+    add_library(CURL::wolfssl INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::wolfssl PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_wolfssl_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_wolfssl_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES wolfssl::wolfssl)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(WolfSSL_FOUND FALSE)
+  set(WOLFSSL_FOUND FALSE)
 else()
   find_path(WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "wolfssl/ssl.h")
   find_library(WOLFSSL_LIBRARY NAMES "wolfssl")
diff --git a/CMake/FindZstd.cmake b/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
index baf6148f0d..c75cfdf47e 100644
--- a/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
@@ -64,6 +64,17 @@ if(_zstd_FOUND)
     set(_zstd_LIBRARIES    "${_zstd_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Zstd (via pkg-config): ${_zstd_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${ZSTD_VERSION}\")")
+  find_package(_zstd_cmake NAMES zstd)
+  if(TARGET zstd::libzstd AND NOT TARGET CURL::zstd)
+    add_library(CURL::zstd INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(CURL::zstd PROPERTIES
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_zstd_LINK_LIBRARIES}"
+      INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_zstd_pc_requires}"
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES zstd::libzstd)
+  endif()
+elseif(1)
+  set(Zstd_FOUND TRUE)
+  set(ZSTD_FOUND TRUE)
 else()
   find_path(ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "zstd.h")
   if(ZSTD_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake b/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
index f4e17d29b3..45947ec6c9 100644
--- a/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
+++ b/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
@@ -62,74 +62,50 @@ set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR} ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH})
 set(_curl_libs "")
 
 if("@HAVE_BROTLI@")
-  find_dependency(Brotli MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::brotli)
+  find_dependency(unofficial-brotli CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@USE_ARES@")
-  find_dependency(Cares MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::cares)
+  find_dependency(c-ares CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@HAVE_GSSAPI@")
-  find_dependency(GSS MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::gss)
 endif()
 if("@USE_BACKTRACE@")
   find_dependency(Libbacktrace MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libbacktrace)
 endif()
 if("@USE_GSASL@")
-  find_dependency(Libgsasl MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libgsasl)
 endif()
 if(NOT "@USE_WIN32_LDAP@" AND NOT "@CURL_DISABLE_LDAP@")
-  find_dependency(LDAP MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::ldap)
 endif()
 if("@HAVE_LIBIDN2@")
-  find_dependency(Libidn2 MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libidn2)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBPSL@")
-  find_dependency(Libpsl MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libpsl)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBRTMP@")
-  find_dependency(Librtmp MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::librtmp)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBSSH@")
   find_dependency(Libssh MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libssh)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBSSH2@")
-  find_dependency(Libssh2 MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libssh2)
+  find_dependency(libssh2 CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBUV@")
   find_dependency(Libuv MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libuv)
 endif()
 if("@USE_MBEDTLS@")
-  find_dependency(MbedTLS MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::mbedtls)
+  find_dependency(MbedTLS CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGHTTP2@")
-  find_dependency(NGHTTP2 MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nghttp2)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGHTTP3@")
-  find_dependency(NGHTTP3 MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nghttp3)
+  find_dependency(nghttp3 CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGTCP2@")
-  find_dependency(NGTCP2 MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::ngtcp2)
+  find_dependency(ngtcp2 CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@USE_GNUTLS@")
-  find_dependency(GnuTLS MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::gnutls)
-  find_dependency(Nettle MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nettle)
 endif()
 if("@USE_QUICHE@")
   find_dependency(Quiche MODULE)
@@ -140,12 +116,10 @@ if("@USE_RUSTLS@")
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::rustls)
 endif()
 if("@USE_WOLFSSL@")
-  find_dependency(WolfSSL MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::wolfssl)
+  find_dependency(wolfssl CONFIG)
 endif()
 if("@HAVE_ZSTD@")
-  find_dependency(Zstd MODULE)
-  list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::zstd)
+  find_dependency(zstd CONFIG)
 endif()
 
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${_curl_cmake_module_path_save})
@@ -192,7 +166,11 @@ endif()
 # For compatibility with CMake's FindCURL.cmake
 set(CURL_VERSION_STRING "@CURLVERSION@")
 set(CURL_LIBRARIES @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@)
-set(CURL_LIBRARIES_PRIVATE "@LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST@")
+set(CURL_LIBRARIES_PRIVATE "")
+# @CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE@ usage requirements
+set(_z_vcpkg_CURL_CONFIG_LIBS             "@CURL_CONFIG_LIBS@")
+set(_z_vcpkg_LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE   "@LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@")
+set(_z_vcpkg_LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "@LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST@")
 set_and_check(CURL_INCLUDE_DIRS "@PACKAGE_CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR@")
 
 set(CURL_SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS "@CURL_SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS_LIST@")
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 154ba5ef8f..316ad603a9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1853,6 +1853,44 @@ if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
   endif()
 endif()
 
+# avoid downstream pkg-config requirement for CURL::dependency interface targets
+# changing CURL_LIBS before add_subdirectory(src)
+set(CURL_LIBS_RAW "${CURL_LIBS}")
+set(CURL_LIBS "")
+find_library(_libdl_absolute dl NO_CACHE)
+find_library(_libm_absolute m NO_CACHE)
+foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS_RAW)
+  if(NOT _lib MATCHES "CURL::")
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  get_target_property(_modules "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES)
+  if(NOT _modules)
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  get_target_property(_pc_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+  get_target_property(_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+  if(_pc_link_libs AND NOT TARGET "${_link_libs}")
+    set(_link_libs "${_pc_link_libs}")
+  endif()
+  if(NOT _link_libs)
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${_lib}>)
+  foreach(_item IN LISTS _link_libs)
+    if(_item STREQUAL "${_libdl_absolute}")
+      set(_item dl)
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+    elseif(_item STREQUAL "${_libm_absolute}")
+      set(_item m)
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+    endif()
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+  endforeach()
+endforeach()
+
 if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "MSVC")  # MSVC but exclude clang-cl
   set_property(DIRECTORY APPEND PROPERTY COMPILE_OPTIONS "-MP")  # Parallel compilation
 endif()
@@ -2144,7 +2182,7 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
   set(_explicit_libdirs "")
   set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "")
   set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "")
-  foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS _custom_libs _implicit_libs)
+  foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS_RAW _custom_libs _implicit_libs)
     if(TARGET "${_lib}")
       set(_explicit_libs "")
       get_target_property(_imported "${_lib}" IMPORTED)
@@ -2184,8 +2222,25 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
       endif()
       if(_modules)
         list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "${_modules}")
+        get_target_property(_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+        if(_link_libs)
+          set(_explicit_libs "${_link_libs}")
+        endif()
       endif()
 
+      # deduplication and workaround for pkgconf 2.5.1 bug
+      if("${_explicit_libs};" MATCHES "/libcrypto.a;")
+        list(REMOVE_ITEM _modules "libcrypto")
+        list(APPEND _modules "libcrypto;")
+      endif()
+      if("${_explicit_libs};" MATCHES "/libz.a")
+        list(REMOVE_ITEM _modules "zlib")
+        list(APPEND _modules "zlib")
+      endif()
+
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE}")
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "")
+      set(_original_lib "${_lib}")
       foreach(_lib IN LISTS _explicit_libs)
         if(_lib MATCHES "/")
           # This gets a bit more complex, because we want to specify the
@@ -2204,23 +2259,44 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
             if(NOT _libdir IN_LIST _sys_libdirs)
               list(APPEND _ldflags "-L${_libdir}")
             endif()
+            if(CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX STREQUAL "lib")
             string(REGEX REPLACE "^lib" "" _libname "${_libname}")
+            endif()
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_libname}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_libname}")
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           else()
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${_lib}")
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           endif()
+        elseif(_lib MATCHES "^-")  # '-framework <name>'
+          list(APPEND _ldflags "${_lib}")
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
+          list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
         else()
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
           list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
         endif()
       endforeach()
+      list(APPEND CURL_CONFIG_LIBS ${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE})
+      if(NOT _modules)
+        list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES ${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE})
+      endif()
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES}")
     elseif(_lib MATCHES "^-")  # '-framework <name>'
       list(APPEND _ldflags "${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
     else()
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
+      list(APPEND CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
     endif()
   endforeach()
@@ -2243,6 +2319,7 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
   if(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE)
     string(REPLACE ";" " " LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE}")
   endif()
+  string(REPLACE ";" " " CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "${CURL_CONFIG_LIBS}")
   if(_ldflags)
     list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES _ldflags)
     string(REPLACE ";" " " _ldflags "${_ldflags}")
diff --git a/curl-config.in b/curl-config.in
index a1c8185875..bb6e053d23 100644
--- a/curl-config.in
+++ b/curl-config.in
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ while test "$#" -gt 0; do
       curllibdir=''
     fi
     if test '@ENABLE_SHARED@' = 'no'; then
-      echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@"
+      echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @CURL_CONFIG_LIBS@"
     else
       echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl"
     fi
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ while test "$#" -gt 0; do
 
   --static-libs)
     if test '@ENABLE_STATIC@' != 'no'; then
-      echo "@libdir@/libcurl.@libext@ @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@"
+      echo "@libdir@/libcurl.@libext@ @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @CURL_CONFIG_LIBS@"
     else
       echo 'curl was built with static libraries disabled' >&2
       exit 1
diff --git a/libcurl.pc.in b/libcurl.pc.in
index c0ba5244a8..17b7db9220 100644
--- a/libcurl.pc.in
+++ b/libcurl.pc.in
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ Name: libcurl
 URL: https://curl.se/
 Description: Library to transfer files with HTTP, FTP, etc.
 Version: @CURLVERSION@
-Requires: @LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES@
+Requires:
 Requires.private: @LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE@
-Libs: -L${libdir} -lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS@
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lcurl
 Libs.private: @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@
-Cflags: -I${includedir} @LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS@
+Cflags: -I${includedir}
 Cflags.private: @LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS_PRIVATE@