diff --git a/modules/core/CMakeLists.txt b/modules/core/CMakeLists.txt
index fcc79a9882..a1d66f1142 100644
--- a/modules/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/modules/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -210,8 +210,10 @@ endif()
 ocv_add_accuracy_tests()
 ocv_add_perf_tests()
 
-if (HAVE_CUDA)
+if (TARGET opencv_test_core AND HAVE_CUDA)
   ocv_target_compile_definitions(opencv_test_core PRIVATE "HAVE_CUDA=1")
+endif()
+if (TARGET opencv_perf_core AND HAVE_CUDA)
   ocv_target_compile_definitions(opencv_perf_core PRIVATE "HAVE_CUDA=1")
 endif()