diff --git a/mkspecs/features/data/cmake/Qt5BasicConfig.cmake.in b/mkspecs/features/data/cmake/Qt5BasicConfig.cmake.in
index 866ace6c5c..4f342d67d7 100644
--- a/mkspecs/features/data/cmake/Qt5BasicConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/mkspecs/features/data/cmake/Qt5BasicConfig.cmake.in
@@ -252,7 +252,8 @@ if (NOT TARGET Qt5::$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME})
         endif()
     endforeach()
 
-    if (_Qt5$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME}_PRIVATE_DIRS_EXIST)
+    if (_Qt5$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME}_PRIVATE_DIRS_EXIST
+        AND NOT CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS 3.0.0 )
         add_library(Qt5::$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME}Private INTERFACE IMPORTED)
         set_property(TARGET Qt5::$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME}Private PROPERTY
             INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${Qt5$${CMAKE_MODULE_NAME}_OWN_PRIVATE_INCLUDE_DIRS}