diff --git a/src/external/lib3ds.cmake b/src/external/lib3ds.cmake
index 704fbec62..e06ac9bb7 100644
--- a/src/external/lib3ds.cmake
+++ b/src/external/lib3ds.cmake
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ elseif(MESHLAB_ALLOW_DOWNLOAD_SOURCE_LIB3DS)
 
 	message(STATUS "- lib3ds - using downloaded source")
 	add_library(
-		external-lib3ds STATIC
+		external-lib3ds SHARED
 		"${LIB3DS_DIR}/lib3ds/atmosphere.c"
 		"${LIB3DS_DIR}/lib3ds/atmosphere.h"
 		"${LIB3DS_DIR}/lib3ds/background.c"
@@ -64,6 +64,6 @@ elseif(MESHLAB_ALLOW_DOWNLOAD_SOURCE_LIB3DS)
 		"${LIB3DS_DIR}/lib3ds/viewport.h")
 
 	target_include_directories(external-lib3ds SYSTEM PUBLIC "${LIB3DS_DIR}")
-	target_compile_definitions(external-lib3ds PUBLIC LIB3DS_STATIC)
 	target_link_libraries(external-lib3ds PRIVATE external-disable-warnings)
+	install(TARGETS external-lib3ds DESTINATION ${MESHLAB_LIB_INSTALL_DIR})
 endif()