diff --git a/external/harfbuzz/ExternalProject_harfbuzz.mk b/external/harfbuzz/ExternalProject_harfbuzz.mk
index 98ae5b93eb94..494369606591 100644
--- a/external/harfbuzz/ExternalProject_harfbuzz.mk
+++ b/external/harfbuzz/ExternalProject_harfbuzz.mk
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ $(call gb_ExternalProject_get_state_target,harfbuzz,build) : | $(call gb_Externa
 			-Dicu=enabled \
 			-Dicu_builtin=true \
 			-Dgraphite2=enabled \
+			$(if $(filter MSC_TRUE,$(COM)_$(MSVC_USE_DEBUG_RUNTIME)),-Db_vscrt=mdd) \
 			$(if $(filter-out $(BUILD_PLATFORM),$(HOST_PLATFORM))$(WSL),--cross-file cross-file.txt) && \
 		$(MESON) compile -C builddir lib \
 			$(if $(verbose),--verbose) \