diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d58cb14..5e0719f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,15 +12,13 @@ set(PACKAGE_VERSION "1.0.0")
 
 macro(build_yaml_cpp)
   set(extra_cmake_args)
-  set(YAML_C_FLAGS ${CMAKE_C_FLAGS})
-  set(YAML_CXX_FLAGS ${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS})
 
   if(DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
     list(APPEND extra_cmake_args -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE})
   endif()
   if(NOT WIN32)
-    list(APPEND YAML_C_FLAGS "-w")
-    list(APPEND YAML_CXX_FLAGS "-std=c++14 -w")
+    set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -w")
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++14 -w")
   endif()
 
   list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DYAML_CPP_BUILD_TESTS=OFF")
@@ -28,9 +26,9 @@ macro(build_yaml_cpp)
   list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DYAML_CPP_BUILD_CONTRIB=OFF")
   list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON")
   list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}")
-  list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=${YAML_C_FLAGS}")
+  list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=${CMAKE_C_FLAGS}")
   list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}")
-  list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=${YAML_CXX_FLAGS}")
+  list(APPEND extra_cmake_args "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS}")
 
   if(WIN32 AND NOT ${CMAKE_VERBOSE_MAKEFILE})
     set(should_log ON)  # prevent warnings in Windows CI