diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index def3417845d..68252f3a98b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -690,6 +690,8 @@ def build_extensions(self) -> None:
                     feature.set("zlib", "z")
                 elif sys.platform == "win32" and _find_library_file(self, "zlib"):
                     feature.set("zlib", "zlib")  # alternative name
+                elif sys.platform == "win32" and _find_library_file(self, "zdll"):
+                    feature.set("zlib", "zdll")  # dll import library
 
         if feature.want("jpeg"):
             _dbg("Looking for jpeg")