diff --git a/utils/CMakeLists.txt b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 add_executable(zfpcmd zfp.c)
-set_property(TARGET zfpcmd PROPERTY OUTPUT_NAME zfp)
+
+# protect against LNK1114: cannot overwrite the original file 'lib/Release/zfp.lib'; error code 32;
+# rationale: linker can't handle the case of an executable file having the same name as a library file
+if(NOT MSVC)
+  set_property(TARGET zfpcmd PROPERTY OUTPUT_NAME zfp)
+endif()
 target_link_libraries(zfpcmd zfp)
 if(HAVE_LIBM_MATH)
   target_link_libraries(zfpcmd m)