diff --git a/srcpkgs/gtest/template b/srcpkgs/gtest/template
index 8ebaf450ed6..b85c58f93f9 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/gtest/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/gtest/template
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ pkgname=gtest
 version=1.12.1
 revision=1
 build_style=cmake
+make_cmd=make # using make to avoid a cycle: ninja -> gtest -> ninja
 configure_args="-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON -DCMAKE_SKIP_RPATH=ON"
 hostmakedepends="unzip"
 short_desc="Google's framework for writing C++ tests"
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ homepage="https://github.com/google/googletest"
 distfiles="https://github.com/google/googletest/archive/release-${version}.tar.gz"
 checksum=81964fe578e9bd7c94dfdb09c8e4d6e6759e19967e397dbea48d1c10e45d0df2
 
+export CMAKE_GENERATOR="Unix Makefiles"
+
 post_install() {
 	vlicense LICENSE
 }