diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 852eb2bf6c8..e8094b72550 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ if("${gRPC_ZLIB_PROVIDER}" STREQUAL "module")
   endif()
   set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR "${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR}")
   if(EXISTS "${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR}/CMakeLists.txt")
+      # TODO(jtattermusch): workaround for https://github.com/madler/zlib/issues/218
+      include_directories(${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR})
+
       add_subdirectory(${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR} third_party/zlib)
       if(TARGET zlibstatic)
           set(_gRPC_ZLIB_LIBRARIES zlibstatic)
diff --git a/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template b/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
index ef0faccb2e8..91bed9a6db1 100644
--- a/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
+++ b/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@
     endif()
     set(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR "<%text>${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR}</%text>")
     if(EXISTS "<%text>${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR}</%text>/CMakeLists.txt")
+        # TODO(jtattermusch): workaround for https://github.com/madler/zlib/issues/218
+        include_directories(<%text>${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR}</%text>)
+
         add_subdirectory(<%text>${ZLIB_ROOT_DIR}</%text> third_party/zlib)
         if(TARGET zlibstatic)
             set(_gRPC_ZLIB_LIBRARIES zlibstatic)