FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIR_freetype2. The error case was that during first cmake run (unspecified ACTUAL_3RDPARTY_DIR) FindFreeType set these to xxx-NOTFOUND. After specifying ACTUAL_3RDPARTY_DIR, Find3rdPartyDependencies warn't able to change these (without FORCE). I also added freetype237 to the library search list since it is what's in my binary dependencies for vc90"