diff --git a/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake b/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
index b5437e7525..14dbbb9d3f 100644
--- a/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindBrotli.cmake
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG AND
    NOT DEFINED BROTLICOMMON_LIBRARY AND
    NOT DEFINED BROTLIDEC_LIBRARY)
   find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-  pkg_check_modules(_brotli ${_brotli_pc_requires})
 endif()
 
 if(_brotli_FOUND)
@@ -57,6 +56,14 @@ if(_brotli_FOUND)
     set(_brotli_LIBRARIES    "${_brotli_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Brotli (via pkg-config): ${_brotli_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${BROTLI_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  find_package(unofficial-brotli)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Brotli REQUIRED_VARS unofficial-brotli_CONFIG)
+  set(_brotli_CFLAGS       "")
+  set(_brotli_INCLUDE_DIRS "")
+  set(_brotli_LIBRARY_DIRS "")
+  set(_brotli_LIBRARIES    "unofficial::brotli::brotlidec")
 else()
   find_path(BROTLI_INCLUDE_DIR "brotli/decode.h")
   if(BROTLI_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindCares.cmake b/CMake/FindCares.cmake
index 3c05c3b2eb..b9f022cdd4 100644
--- a/CMake/FindCares.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindCares.cmake
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ set(_cares_pc_requires "libcares")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED CARES_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED CARES_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_cares ${_cares_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _cares_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(c-ares CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -69,6 +70,9 @@ elseif(c-ares_CONFIG)
     set(_cares_LIBRARIES c-ares::cares)
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Cares (via CMake Config): ${c-ares_CONFIG} (found version \"${CARES_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Cares REQUIRED_VARS c-ares_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(CARES_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "ares.h")
   if(CARES_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindGSS.cmake b/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
index e36f75bf9c..c4c7c4ad81 100644
--- a/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindGSS.cmake
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ if(NOT GSS_ROOT_DIR AND NOT "$ENV{GSS_ROOT_DIR}")
 endif()
 
 if(NOT _gss_FOUND)  # Not found by pkg-config. Let us take more traditional approach.
+elseif(0)
   find_file(_gss_configure_script NAMES "krb5-config" PATH_SUFFIXES "bin" HINTS ${_gss_root_hints}
     NO_CMAKE_PATH NO_CMAKE_ENVIRONMENT_PATH)
   # If not found in user-supplied directories, maybe system knows better
@@ -265,7 +266,6 @@ if(GSS_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_gss_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_gss_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_gss_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_gss_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gss_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gss_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake b/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
index fff57b2c29..7d81acd99a 100644
--- a/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindGnuTLS.cmake
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 set(_gnutls_pc_requires "gnutls")
 
+unset(GNUTLS_LIBRARY CACHE) # from shiftmedia-libgnutls cmake wrapper
 if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG AND
    NOT DEFINED GNUTLS_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED GNUTLS_LIBRARY)
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ if(_gnutls_FOUND)
   set(GNUTLS_FOUND TRUE)
   set(GNUTLS_VERSION ${_gnutls_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found GnuTLS (via pkg-config): ${_gnutls_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${GNUTLS_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(GnuTLS REQUIRED_VARS _gnutls_FOUND)
 else()
   find_path(GNUTLS_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "gnutls/gnutls.h")
   find_library(GNUTLS_LIBRARY NAMES "gnutls" "libgnutls")
@@ -86,7 +90,6 @@ if(GNUTLS_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_gnutls_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_gnutls_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_gnutls_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_gnutls_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gnutls_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_gnutls_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake b/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
index 2f5cc713c7..63c1b0800f 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLDAP.cmake
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ if(_ldap_FOUND)
   set(LDAP_FOUND TRUE)
   set(LDAP_VERSION ${_ldap_ldap_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found LDAP (via pkg-config): ${_ldap_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${LDAP_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(LDAP REQUIRED_VARS _ldap_FOUND)
 else()
   set(_ldap_pc_requires "")  # Depend on pkg-config only when found via pkg-config
 
@@ -109,7 +112,6 @@ if(LDAP_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_ldap_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_ldap_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_ldap_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_ldap_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_ldap_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_ldap_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake b/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
index 5ddf957d72..db462466e4 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibgsasl.cmake
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ if(_libgsasl_FOUND)
   set(Libgsasl_FOUND TRUE)
   set(LIBGSASL_FOUND TRUE)
   message(STATUS "Found Libgsasl (via pkg-config): ${_libgsasl_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${LIBGSASL_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libgsasl REQUIRED_VARS _libgsasl_FOUND)
 else()
   find_path(LIBGSASL_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "gsasl.h")
   find_library(LIBGSASL_LIBRARY NAMES "gsasl" "libgsasl")
@@ -85,7 +88,6 @@ if(LIBGSASL_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libgsasl_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libgsasl_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libgsasl_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libgsasl_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libgsasl_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libgsasl_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake b/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
index 336a7f7b40..b2f3eaf534 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibidn2.cmake
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ if(_libidn2_FOUND)
   set(LIBIDN2_FOUND TRUE)
   set(LIBIDN2_VERSION ${_libidn2_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found Libidn2 (via pkg-config): ${_libidn2_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${LIBIDN2_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libidn2 REQUIRED_VARS _libidn2_FOUND)
 else()
   find_path(LIBIDN2_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "idn2.h")
   find_library(LIBIDN2_LIBRARY NAMES "idn2" "libidn2")
@@ -86,7 +89,6 @@ if(LIBIDN2_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libidn2_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libidn2_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libidn2_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libidn2_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libidn2_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libidn2_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake b/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
index 9b1a0cdd97..a7fe288883 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibpsl.cmake
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ if(_libpsl_FOUND AND _libpsl_INCLUDE_DIRS)
   set(LIBPSL_FOUND TRUE)
   set(LIBPSL_VERSION ${_libpsl_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found Libpsl (via pkg-config): ${_libpsl_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${LIBPSL_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libpsl REQUIRED_VARS _libpsl_FOUND _libpsl_INCLUDE_DIRS)
 else()
   find_path(LIBPSL_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "libpsl.h")
   find_library(LIBPSL_LIBRARY NAMES "psl" "libpsl")
@@ -86,7 +89,6 @@ if(LIBPSL_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_libpsl_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_libpsl_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_libpsl_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_libpsl_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libpsl_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_libpsl_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake b/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
index abed471eb2..f07bb0226b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindLibssh2.cmake
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ set(_libssh2_pc_requires "libssh2")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED LIBSSH2_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED LIBSSH2_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_libssh2 ${_libssh2_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _libssh2_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(libssh2 CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -69,6 +70,9 @@ elseif(libssh2_CONFIG)
     set(_libssh2_LIBRARIES libssh2::libssh2)
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Libssh2 (via CMake Config): ${libssh2_CONFIG} (found version \"${LIBSSH2_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Libssh2 REQUIRED_VARS libssh2_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(LIBSSH2_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "libssh2.h")
   if(LIBSSH2_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake b/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
index 8b67ce9acf..f3c984079a 100644
--- a/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindMbedTLS.cmake
@@ -49,9 +49,10 @@ if(NOT DEFINED MBEDTLS_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED MBEDTLS_LIBRARY AND
    NOT DEFINED MBEDX509_LIBRARY AND
    NOT DEFINED MBEDCRYPTO_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_mbedtls ${_mbedtls_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _mbedtls_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(MbedTLS CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -80,6 +81,9 @@ elseif(MbedTLS_CONFIG)
   endif()
   list(APPEND _mbedtls_LIBRARIES MbedTLS::mbedx509 MbedTLS::mbedtls)
   message(STATUS "Found MbedTLS (via CMake Config): ${MbedTLS_CONFIG} (found version \"${MBEDTLS_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(MbedTLS REQUIRED_VARS MbedTLS_CONFIG)
 else()
   set(_mbedtls_pc_requires "")  # Depend on pkg-config only when found via pkg-config
 
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake b/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
index b2a8c97ccd..8b3a1c72d3 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGHTTP2.cmake
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ set(_nghttp2_pc_requires "libnghttp2")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED NGHTTP2_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED NGHTTP2_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
     pkg_check_modules(_nghttp2 ${_nghttp2_pc_requires})
@@ -58,6 +60,9 @@ if(_nghttp2_FOUND)
     set(_nghttp2_LIBRARIES    "${_nghttp2_STATIC_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found NGHTTP2 (via pkg-config): ${_nghttp2_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${NGHTTP2_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(NGHTTP2 REQUIRED_VARS _nghttp2_FOUND)
 elseif(nghttp2_CONFIG)
   set(NGHTTP2_FOUND TRUE)
   set(NGHTTP2_VERSION ${nghttp2_VERSION})
@@ -110,7 +115,6 @@ if(NGHTTP2_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_nghttp2_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_nghttp2_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_nghttp2_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_nghttp2_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nghttp2_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nghttp2_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake b/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
index 57550bffaf..b9bd85e43b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGHTTP3.cmake
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ set(_nghttp3_pc_requires "libnghttp3")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED NGHTTP3_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_nghttp3 ${_nghttp3_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _nghttp3_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(nghttp3 CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -61,12 +62,15 @@ if(_nghttp3_FOUND)
 elseif(nghttp3_CONFIG)
   set(NGHTTP3_FOUND TRUE)
   set(NGHTTP3_VERSION ${nghttp3_VERSION})
-  if(NGHTTP3_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
+  if(NGHTTP3_USE_STATIC_LIBS OR NOT TARGET nghttp3::nghttp3)
     set(_nghttp3_LIBRARIES nghttp3::nghttp3_static)
   else()
     set(_nghttp3_LIBRARIES nghttp3::nghttp3)
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found NGHTTP3 (via CMake Config): ${nghttp3_CONFIG} (found version \"${NGHTTP3_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(NGHTTP3 REQUIRED_VARS nghttp3_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "nghttp3/nghttp3.h")
   if(NGHTTP3_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake b/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
index 615ee4a3c2..c2b0fd2e4d 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNGTCP2.cmake
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ if(NGTCP2_FIND_COMPONENTS)
   if(_ngtcp2_crypto_backend)
     string(TOLOWER "ngtcp2_crypto_${_ngtcp2_crypto_backend}" _crypto_library_lower)
     string(TOUPPER "ngtcp2_crypto_${_ngtcp2_crypto_backend}" _crypto_library_upper)
+    set(NGTCP2_CRYPTO_BACKEND "${_ngtcp2_crypto_backend}")
   endif()
 endif()
 
@@ -76,10 +77,10 @@ endif()
 set(_tried_pkgconfig FALSE)
 if(NOT DEFINED NGTCP2_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED NGTCP2_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_ngtcp2 ${_ngtcp2_pc_requires})
-    set(_tried_pkgconfig TRUE)
   endif()
   if(NOT _ngtcp2_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(ngtcp2 CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -105,12 +105,15 @@ if(_ngtcp2_FOUND)
 elseif(ngtcp2_CONFIG)
   set(NGTCP2_FOUND TRUE)
   set(NGTCP2_VERSION ${ngtcp2_VERSION})
-  if(NGTCP2_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
+  if(NGTCP2_USE_STATIC_LIBS OR NOT TARGET ngtcp2::ngtcp2)
     set(_ngtcp2_LIBRARIES ngtcp2::ngtcp2_static ngtcp2::${_crypto_library_lower}_static)
   else()
     set(_ngtcp2_LIBRARIES ngtcp2::ngtcp2 ngtcp2::${_crypto_library_lower})
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found NGTCP2 (via CMake Config): ${ngtcp2_CONFIG} (found version \"${NGTCP2_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(NGTCP2 REQUIRED_VARS ngtcp2_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(NGTCP2_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "ngtcp2/ngtcp2.h")
   if(NGTCP2_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/FindNettle.cmake b/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
index d22865ffad..049265bc8b 100644
--- a/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindNettle.cmake
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ if(_nettle_FOUND)
   set(NETTLE_FOUND TRUE)
   set(NETTLE_VERSION ${_nettle_VERSION})
   message(STATUS "Found Nettle (via pkg-config): ${_nettle_INCLUDE_DIRS} (found version \"${NETTLE_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Nettle REQUIRED_VARS _nettle_FOUND)
 else()
   find_path(NETTLE_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "nettle/sha2.h")
   find_library(NETTLE_LIBRARY NAMES "nettle")
@@ -91,7 +94,6 @@ if(NETTLE_FOUND)
       INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "${_nettle_pc_requires}"
       INTERFACE_COMPILE_OPTIONS "${_nettle_CFLAGS}"
       INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${_nettle_INCLUDE_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_DIRECTORIES "${_nettle_LIBRARY_DIRS}"
-      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nettle_LIBRARIES}")
+      INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${_nettle_LINK_LIBRARIES}")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake b/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
index 3a3c05f0fd..4c1b832898 100644
--- a/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindWolfSSL.cmake
@@ -47,9 +47,10 @@ set(_wolfssl_pc_requires "wolfssl")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED WOLFSSL_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_wolfssl ${_wolfssl_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _wolfssl_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
     find_package(wolfssl CONFIG QUIET)
@@ -67,6 +68,9 @@ elseif(wolfssl_CONFIG)
   set(WOLFSSL_VERSION ${wolfssl_VERSION})
   set(_wolfssl_LIBRARIES wolfssl::wolfssl)
   message(STATUS "Found WolfSSL (via CMake Config): ${wolfssl_CONFIG} (found version \"${WOLFSSL_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(WolfSSL REQUIRED_VARS wolfssl_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "wolfssl/ssl.h")
   find_library(WOLFSSL_LIBRARY NAMES "wolfssl")
diff --git a/CMake/FindZstd.cmake b/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
index baf6148f0d..c75cfdf47e 100644
--- a/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
+++ b/CMake/FindZstd.cmake
@@ -48,12 +48,13 @@ set(_zstd_pc_requires "libzstd")
 
 if(NOT DEFINED ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR AND
    NOT DEFINED ZSTD_LIBRARY)
+endif()
+if(1)
   if(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG)
     find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
-    pkg_check_modules(_zstd ${_zstd_pc_requires})
   endif()
   if(NOT _zstd_FOUND AND CURL_USE_CMAKECONFIG)
-    find_package(Zstd CONFIG QUIET)
+    find_package(Zstd NAMES zstd CONFIG QUIET)
     # Skip using if older than v1.4.5
     if(Zstd_CONFIG AND
        NOT TARGET zstd::libzstd_static AND
@@ -85,6 +86,9 @@ elseif(Zstd_CONFIG)
     set(_zstd_LIBRARIES zstd::libzstd_shared)
   endif()
   message(STATUS "Found Zstd (via CMake Config): ${Zstd_CONFIG} (found version \"${ZSTD_VERSION}\")")
+elseif(1)
+  include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+  find_package_handle_standard_args(Zstd REQUIRED_VARS Zstd_CONFIG)
 else()
   find_path(ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES "zstd.h")
   if(ZSTD_USE_STATIC_LIBS)
diff --git a/CMake/Macros.cmake b/CMake/Macros.cmake
index 5e26c38469..de6e221163 100644
--- a/CMake/Macros.cmake
+++ b/CMake/Macros.cmake
@@ -258,7 +258,15 @@ macro(curl_collect_target_link_options _target)
     # Explicitly skip this query to avoid CMake v3.18 and older erroring out.
     get_target_property(_val ${_target} TYPE)
     if(NOT "${_val}" STREQUAL "INTERFACE_LIBRARY")
-      get_target_property(_val ${_target} LOCATION)
+      set(_val "")
+      if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE OR CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES "^[Dd][Ee][Bb][Uu][Gg]$")
+        get_target_property(_val ${_target} LOCATION_DEBUG)
+      else()
+        get_target_property(_val ${_target} LOCATION_RELEASE)
+      endif()
+      if(NOT EXISTS "${_val}")
+        get_target_property(_val ${_target} LOCATION)
+      endif()
       if(_val)
         list(APPEND _libs ${_val})
       endif()
@@ -267,6 +275,7 @@ macro(curl_collect_target_link_options _target)
   get_target_property(_val ${_target} INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES)
   if(_val)
     foreach(_lib IN LISTS _val)
+      string(REGEX REPLACE "^[\$]<LINK_ONLY:(.*)>\$" "\\1" _lib "${_lib}")
       if(TARGET "${_lib}")
         curl_collect_target_link_options(${_lib})
       else()
diff --git a/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake b/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
index f4e17d29b3..45947ec6c9 100644
--- a/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
+++ b/CMake/curl-config.in.cmake
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ if("@USE_ARES@")
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::cares)
 endif()
 if("@HAVE_GSSAPI@")
-  find_dependency(GSS MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::gss)
 endif()
 if("@USE_BACKTRACE@")
@@ -82,19 +81,15 @@ if("@USE_BACKTRACE@")
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libbacktrace)
 endif()
 if("@USE_GSASL@")
-  find_dependency(Libgsasl MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libgsasl)
 endif()
 if(NOT "@USE_WIN32_LDAP@" AND NOT "@CURL_DISABLE_LDAP@")
-  find_dependency(LDAP MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::ldap)
 endif()
 if("@HAVE_LIBIDN2@")
-  find_dependency(Libidn2 MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libidn2)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBPSL@")
-  find_dependency(Libpsl MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::libpsl)
 endif()
 if("@USE_LIBSSH@")
@@ -114,7 +109,6 @@ if("@USE_MBEDTLS@")
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::mbedtls)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGHTTP2@")
-  find_dependency(NGHTTP2 MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nghttp2)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGHTTP3@")
@@ -122,13 +116,11 @@ if("@USE_NGHTTP3@")
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nghttp3)
 endif()
 if("@USE_NGTCP2@")
-  find_dependency(NGTCP2 MODULE)
+  find_dependency(NGTCP2 MODULE COMPONENTS @NGTCP2_CRYPTO_BACKEND@)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::ngtcp2)
 endif()
 if("@USE_GNUTLS@")
-  find_dependency(GnuTLS MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::gnutls)
-  find_dependency(Nettle MODULE)
   list(APPEND _curl_libs CURL::nettle)
 endif()
 if("@USE_QUICHE@")
@@ -167,6 +159,7 @@ endif()
 set(CURL_VERSION_STRING "@CURLVERSION@")
 set(CURL_LIBRARIES @PROJECT_NAME@::@LIB_NAME@)
 set(CURL_LIBRARIES_PRIVATE "@LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST@")
+set(CURL_LIBRARIES_PRIVATE "")
 set_and_check(CURL_INCLUDE_DIRS "@PACKAGE_CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR@")
 
 set(CURL_SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS "@CURL_SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS_LIST@")
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 154ba5ef8f..316ad603a9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1880,6 +1880,44 @@ if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
   endif()
 endif()
 
+# avoid downstream pkg-config requirement for CURL::dependency interface targets
+# changing CURL_LIBS before add_subdirectory(src)
+set(CURL_LIBS_RAW "${CURL_LIBS}")
+set(CURL_LIBS "")
+find_library(_libdl_absolute dl NO_CACHE)
+find_library(_libm_absolute m NO_CACHE)
+foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS_RAW)
+  if(NOT _lib MATCHES "CURL::")
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  get_target_property(_modules "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_MODULES)
+  if(NOT _modules)
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  get_target_property(_pc_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+  get_target_property(_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+  if(_pc_link_libs AND NOT TARGET "${_link_libs}")
+    set(_link_libs "${_pc_link_libs}")
+  endif()
+  if(NOT _link_libs)
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${_lib})
+    continue()
+  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${_lib}>)
+  foreach(_item IN LISTS _link_libs)
+    if(_item STREQUAL "${_libdl_absolute}")
+      set(_item dl)
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+    elseif(_item STREQUAL "${_libm_absolute}")
+      set(_item m)
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+    endif()
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:${_item}>)
+  endforeach()
+endforeach()
+
 if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "MSVC")  # MSVC but exclude clang-cl
   set_property(DIRECTORY APPEND PROPERTY COMPILE_OPTIONS "-MP")  # Parallel compilation
 endif()
@@ -2156,7 +2194,8 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
   set(_explicit_libdirs "")
   set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "")
   set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "")
-  foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS _custom_libs _implicit_libs)
+  foreach(_lib IN LISTS CURL_LIBS_RAW _custom_libs _implicit_libs)
+    string(REGEX REPLACE "^[\$]<LINK_ONLY:(.*)>\$" "\\1" _lib "${_lib}")
     if(TARGET "${_lib}")
       set(_explicit_libs "")
       get_target_property(_imported "${_lib}" IMPORTED)
@@ -2182,8 +2221,25 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
       endif()
       if(_modules)
         list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "${_modules}")
+        get_target_property(_link_libs "${_lib}" INTERFACE_LIBCURL_PC_LINK_LIBRARIES)
+        if(_link_libs)
+          set(_explicit_libs "${_link_libs}")
+        endif()
       endif()
 
+      # deduplication and workaround for pkgconf 2.5.1 bug
+      if("${_explicit_libs};" MATCHES "/libcrypto.a;")
+        list(REMOVE_ITEM _modules "libcrypto")
+        list(APPEND _modules "libcrypto")
+      endif()
+      if("${_explicit_libs};" MATCHES "/libzs?d?.a;")
+        list(REMOVE_ITEM _modules "zlib")
+        list(APPEND _modules "zlib")
+      endif()
+
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE}")
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "")
+      set(_original_lib "${_lib}")
       foreach(_lib IN LISTS _explicit_libs)
         if(_lib MATCHES "/")
           # This gets a bit more complex, because we want to specify the
@@ -2202,23 +2258,47 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
             if(NOT _libdir IN_LIST _sys_libdirs)
               list(APPEND _ldflags "-L${_libdir}")
             endif()
+            if(CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX STREQUAL "lib")
             string(REGEX REPLACE "^lib" "" _libname "${_libname}")
+            endif()
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_libname}")
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_libname}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_libname}")
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           else()
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${_lib}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${_lib}")
+            list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
             list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           endif()
+        elseif(_lib MATCHES "^-")  # '-framework <name>'
+          list(APPEND _ldflags "${_lib}")
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
+          list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
         else()
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
           list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
+          list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
           list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
         endif()
       endforeach()
+      list(APPEND CURL_CONFIG_LIBS ${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE})
+      if(NOT _modules)
+        list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES ${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE})
+      endif()
+      set(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_NO_MODULES}")
     elseif(_lib MATCHES "^-")  # '-framework <name>'
       list(APPEND _ldflags "${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
     else()
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
+      list(APPEND CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "-l${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "-l${_lib}")
+      list(REMOVE_ITEM LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
       list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE_LIST "${_lib}")
     endif()
   endforeach()
@@ -2241,6 +2321,7 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
   if(LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE)
     string(REPLACE ";" " " LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE "${LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE}")
   endif()
+  string(REPLACE ";" " " CURL_CONFIG_LIBS "${CURL_CONFIG_LIBS}")
   if(_ldflags)
     list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES _ldflags)
     string(REPLACE ";" " " _ldflags "${_ldflags}")
diff --git a/curl-config.in b/curl-config.in
index a1c8185875..bb6e053d23 100644
--- a/curl-config.in
+++ b/curl-config.in
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ while test "$#" -gt 0; do
       curllibdir=''
     fi
     if test '@ENABLE_SHARED@' = 'no'; then
-      echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@"
+      echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @CURL_CONFIG_LIBS@"
     else
       echo "${curllibdir}-lcurl"
     fi
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ while test "$#" -gt 0; do
 
   --static-libs)
     if test '@ENABLE_STATIC@' != 'no'; then
-      echo "@libdir@/libcurl.@libext@ @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@"
+      echo "@libdir@/libcurl.@libext@ @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @CURL_CONFIG_LIBS@"
     else
       echo 'curl was built with static libraries disabled' >&2
       exit 1
diff --git a/libcurl.pc.in b/libcurl.pc.in
index c0ba5244a8..17b7db9220 100644
--- a/libcurl.pc.in
+++ b/libcurl.pc.in
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ Name: libcurl
 URL: https://curl.se/
 Description: Library to transfer files with HTTP, FTP, etc.
 Version: @CURLVERSION@
-Requires: @LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES@
+Requires:
 Requires.private: @LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE@
-Libs: -L${libdir} -lcurl @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS@
+Libs: -L${libdir} -lcurl
 Libs.private: @LIBCURL_PC_LDFLAGS_PRIVATE@ @LIBCURL_PC_LIBS_PRIVATE@
-Cflags: -I${includedir} @LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS@
+Cflags: -I${includedir}
 Cflags.private: @LIBCURL_PC_CFLAGS_PRIVATE@