diff --git a/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake b/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
index bb4601d81db..643a0d2926b 100644
--- a/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
+++ b/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
@@ -645,13 +645,13 @@ function(_qt_internal_forward_function_args)
     endforeach()
 
     foreach(option_name IN LISTS arg_FORWARD_SINGLE)
-        if(NOT "${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}" STREQUAL "")
+        if(NOT "${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}}" STREQUAL "")
             list(APPEND forward_args "${option_name}" "${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}}")
         endif()
     endforeach()
 
     foreach(option_name IN LISTS arg_FORWARD_MULTI)
-        if(NOT "${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}" STREQUAL "")
+        if(NOT "${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}}" STREQUAL "")
             list(APPEND forward_args "${option_name}" ${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}})
         endif()
     endforeach()