diff --git a/runtimes/native/CMakeLists.txt b/runtimes/native/CMakeLists.txt
index 13e7e360..8f5b2284 100644
--- a/runtimes/native/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/runtimes/native/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -161,8 +161,14 @@ target_include_directories(wasm4 PRIVATE
     $<$<BOOL:${GLFW}>:${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/vendor/glad/include>
     $<$<BOOL:${WASM3}>:${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/vendor/wasm3/source>
     $<$<BOOL:${TOYWASM}>:${toywasm_tmp_install}/include>)
+# Note: as of writing this, libretro CI uses an ancient cmake, which
+# doesn't have target_link_directories. the following target_link_directories
+# is wrapped with an otherwise redundant "if (TOYWASM)" to avoid errors there.
+# https://github.com/aduros/wasm4/issues/768
+if (TOYWASM)
 target_link_directories(wasm4 PRIVATE
     $<$<BOOL:${TOYWASM}>:${toywasm_tmp_install}/lib>)
+endif ()
 
 target_link_libraries(wasm4 cubeb
     $<$<BOOL:${MINIFB}>:minifb>