diff --git a/cmake/macros/LinkHifiLibraries.cmake b/cmake/macros/LinkHifiLibraries.cmake
index 96c5d82cae..00020cc059 100644
--- a/cmake/macros/LinkHifiLibraries.cmake
+++ b/cmake/macros/LinkHifiLibraries.cmake
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ macro(LINK_HIFI_LIBRARIES TARGET)
 
     add_dependencies(${TARGET} ${HIFI_LIBRARY})
   
-    # link the actual library
-    list(APPEND ${TARGET}_LIBRARIES_TO_LINK ${HIFI_LIBRARY})
+    # link the actual library - it is static so don't bubble it up
+    target_link_libraries(${TARGET} ${HIFI_LIBRARY})
     
     # ask the library what its dynamic dependencies are and link them
     get_target_property(LINKED_TARGET_DEPENDENCY_LIBRARIES ${HIFI_LIBRARY} DEPENDENCY_LIBRARIES)
diff --git a/tools/json2bitstream/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/json2bitstream/CMakeLists.txt
index 28c18f6762..3868b551ea 100644
--- a/tools/json2bitstream/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/json2bitstream/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 set(TARGET_NAME json2bitstream)
-setup_hifi_project(${TARGET_NAME})
\ No newline at end of file
+setup_hifi_project(${TARGET_NAME})
+
+# link any shared dependencies
+link_shared_dependencies_to_target(${TARGET_NAME})
\ No newline at end of file