diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index c956b9de1..b68208eaa 100644
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ endif(SCAFACOS)
 # Subdirectories
 add_subdirectory(io)
 
+if(H5MD)
+  target_link_libraries(EspressoCore PUBLIC ${HDF5_LIBRARIES})
+endif(H5MD)
 
 if(WITH_UNIT_TESTS)
   add_subdirectory(unit_tests)