diff --git a/src/config/CMakeLists.txt b/src/config/CMakeLists.txt
index 6e694627a..86322f22a 100644
--- a/src/config/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/config/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ configure_package_config_file(
 install(FILES
         ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ConduitConfig.cmake
         ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ConduitConfigVersion.cmake
+        conduit_setup_deps.cmake
         conduit_setup_targets.cmake
         DESTINATION ${CONDUIT_INSTALL_CMAKE_MODULE_DIR})
 
diff --git a/src/config/ConduitConfig.cmake.in b/src/config/ConduitConfig.cmake.in
index d8fc3a6fa..bff959aa3 100644
--- a/src/config/ConduitConfig.cmake.in
+++ b/src/config/ConduitConfig.cmake.in
@@ -67,11 +67,17 @@ if(NOT CONDUIT_FOUND)
     set(CONDUIT_PYTHON_EXECUTABLE "@PYTHON_EXECUTABLE@")
     set(CONDUIT_PYTHON_MODULE_DIR "@CONDUIT_INSTALL_PYTHON_MODULE_DIR@")
 
-
     get_filename_component(CONDUIT_CMAKE_CONFIG_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE}" PATH)
+
+    # setup dependent pkgs
+    include(${CONDUIT_CMAKE_CONFIG_DIR}/conduit_setup_deps.cmake)
+
     # include targets exported by cmake
     include(${CONDUIT_CMAKE_CONFIG_DIR}/conduit.cmake)
 
+    # setup dependent pkgs
+    include(${CONDUIT_CMAKE_CONFIG_DIR}/conduit_setup_deps.cmake)
+
     # finally setup our final imported targets
     include(${CONDUIT_CMAKE_CONFIG_DIR}/conduit_setup_targets.cmake)
 
diff --git a/src/config/conduit_setup_deps.cmake b/src/config/conduit_setup_deps.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54acb9f80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/conduit_setup_deps.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+###############################################################################
+# Copyright (c) 2014-2019, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
+# 
+# Produced at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
+# 
+# LLNL-CODE-666778
+# 
+# All rights reserved.
+# 
+# This file is part of Conduit. 
+# 
+# For details, see: http://software.llnl.gov/conduit/.
+# 
+# Please also read conduit/LICENSE
+# 
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without 
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+# 
+# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, 
+#   this list of conditions and the disclaimer below.
+# 
+# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#   this list of conditions and the disclaimer (as noted below) in the
+#   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# 
+# * Neither the name of the LLNS/LLNL nor the names of its contributors may
+#   be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+#   specific prior written permission.
+# 
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY,
+# LLC, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+# DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL 
+# DAMAGES  (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, 
+# STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
+# IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE 
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+# 
+###############################################################################
+
+include(CMakeFindDependencyMacro)
+
+###############################################################################
+# Setup Threads
+###############################################################################
+if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+# we depend on Threads::Threads in our exported targets
+# so we need to bootstrap that here
+    if(NOT Threads::Threads)
+        find_package( Threads REQUIRED )
+    endif()
+endif()
+
diff --git a/src/libs/relay/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libs/relay/CMakeLists.txt
index 778b01ff9..864e1ba5a 100644
--- a/src/libs/relay/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libs/relay/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ set(conduit_relay_deps conduit conduit_blueprint)
 if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
     # we need these for civetweb on linux, we may need similar libs
     # on windows (OSX appears ok without them)
-    list(APPEND conduit_relay_deps dl rt ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
+    list(APPEND conduit_relay_deps dl rt Threads::Threads)
     set(CONDUIT_MAKE_EXTRA_LIBS "${CONDUIT_MAKE_EXTRA_LIBS} -ldl -lrt ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
 endif()