diff --git a/src/javascript/CMakeLists.txt b/src/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
index da08fb4..0134f8a 100644
--- a/src/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ include_directories (
   ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/..
 )
 
-set (CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS -DBUILDING_NODE_EXTENSION)
 # SWIG treats SWIG_FLAGS as a list and not a string so semicolon seperation is required
 set_source_files_properties (mraajs.i PROPERTIES SWIG_FLAGS "-node;-I${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/src")
 set_source_files_properties (mraajs.i PROPERTIES CPLUSPLUS ON)
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ if (DOXYGEN_FOUND)
 endif ()
 
 set_target_properties (mraajs PROPERTIES
+  COMPILE_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -DBUILDING_NODE_EXTENSION"
   PREFIX ""
   OUTPUT_NAME mraa
   SUFFIX ".node"