diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index eb8ce84..c06f4c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ make install
 
 ### Version
 
-2.5.0
+2.5.1
 
 
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 437459c..73462a5 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.5.0
+2.5.1
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 1b88909..390ed1f 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ set_target_properties(${lib_name} PROPERTIES Fortran_MODULE_DIRECTORY
 target_include_directories(${lib_name} INTERFACE
   $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${module_dir}>
   $<INSTALL_INTERFACE:include>)
-target_link_libraries(${lib_name} PRIVATE MPI::MPI_Fortran bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
+
+#depends on w3nco and bacio, but users must link their own version
+target_link_libraries(${lib_name} PRIVATE MPI::MPI_Fortran)
 list(APPEND LIB_TARGETS ${lib_name})
 
 install(DIRECTORY ${module_dir} DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX})
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 7eb1dcb..9657e56 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 set(tstName read_nemsio)
 set(srcName read_nemsio.f90)
 set(exeName read_nemsio.x)
@@ -9,10 +8,10 @@ execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E create_symlink
 
 add_executable(${exeName} ${srcName})
 add_dependencies(${exeName} nemsio)
-target_link_libraries( ${exeName} PUBLIC nemsio)
+target_link_libraries( ${exeName} PUBLIC nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
 add_test(NAME ${tstName} COMMAND ${exeName} testdataset)
 
 add_pfunit_ctest (nemsio_test
   TEST_SOURCES test_mod.pf
-  LINK_LIBRARIES nemsio
+  LINK_LIBRARIES nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d
 )
diff --git a/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 465bb93..220eac2 100644
--- a/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 add_executable(nemsio_read nemsio_read.f90)
-target_link_libraries(nemsio_read nemsio)
+target_link_libraries(nemsio_read nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
 
 add_executable(nemsio_get nemsio_get.f90)
-target_link_libraries(nemsio_get nemsio)
+target_link_libraries(nemsio_get nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
 
 add_executable(nemsio_chgdate nemsio_chgdate.f90)
-target_link_libraries(nemsio_chgdate nemsio)
+target_link_libraries(nemsio_chgdate nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
 
 add_executable(mkgfsnemsioctl mkgfsnemsioctl.f90)
-target_link_libraries(mkgfsnemsioctl nemsio)
+target_link_libraries(mkgfsnemsioctl nemsio bacio::bacio_4 w3nco::w3nco_d)
 
 install(TARGETS nemsio_read nemsio_get nemsio_chgdate mkgfsnemsioctl
   RUNTIME DESTINATION bin COMPONENT utilities)