diff --git a/modules/dnn/cmake/OpenCVFindLibProtobuf.cmake b/modules/dnn/cmake/OpenCVFindLibProtobuf.cmake
index eb2a729cc2eb..8717736484de 100644
--- a/modules/dnn/cmake/OpenCVFindLibProtobuf.cmake
+++ b/modules/dnn/cmake/OpenCVFindLibProtobuf.cmake
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ if(NOT BUILD_PROTOBUF AND NOT (DEFINED PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIR AND DEFINED PROTOBUF
   find_package(Protobuf QUIET)
 endif()
 
-if(PROTOBUF_FOUND)
+if(PROTOBUF_FOUND OR (DEFINED PROTOBUF_INCLUDE_DIR AND DEFINED PROTOBUF_LIBRARIES))
   # nothing
 else()
   include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/download_protobuf.cmake)