diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fbd23a5685a..129dab6f1c4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -689,10 +689,15 @@ def build_extensions(self) -> None:
             if _find_include_file(self, "zlib.h"):
                 if _find_library_file(self, "z"):
                     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
+                elif sys.platform == "win32":
+                    for library in (
+                        "zlib",
+                        "zlibstatic",
+                        "zdll",  # dll import library
+                    ):
+                        if _find_library_file(self, library):
+                            feature.set("zlib", library)
+                            break
 
         if feature.want("jpeg"):
             _dbg("Looking for jpeg")
diff --git a/winbuild/build_prepare.py b/winbuild/build_prepare.py
index 9ab04f7e5e4..f9c8c14cdf2 100644
--- a/winbuild/build_prepare.py
+++ b/winbuild/build_prepare.py
@@ -163,18 +163,13 @@ def cmd_msbuild(
         "filename": f"zlib-ng-{V['ZLIBNG']}.zip",
         "dir": f"zlib-ng-{V['ZLIBNG']}",
         "license": "LICENSE.md",
-        "patch": {
-            r"CMakeLists.txt": {
-                "set_target_properties(zlib PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME zlibstatic${{SUFFIX}})": "set_target_properties(zlib PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME zlib)",  # noqa: E501
-            },
-        },
         "build": [
             *cmds_cmake(
                 "zlib", "-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=OFF", "-DZLIB_COMPAT:BOOL=ON"
             ),
         ],
         "headers": [r"z*.h"],
-        "libs": [r"zlib.lib"],
+        "libs": ["zlibstatic.lib"],
     },
     "xz": {
         "url": f"https://github.com/tukaani-project/xz/releases/download/v{V['XZ']}/FILENAME",
@@ -285,7 +280,7 @@ def cmd_msbuild(
                 "<UserDefines></UserDefines>": "<UserDefines>FT_CONFIG_OPTION_SYSTEM_ZLIB;FT_CONFIG_OPTION_USE_PNG;FT_CONFIG_OPTION_USE_HARFBUZZ;FT_CONFIG_OPTION_USE_BROTLI</UserDefines>",  # noqa: E501
                 "<UserIncludeDirectories></UserIncludeDirectories>": r"<UserIncludeDirectories>{dir_harfbuzz}\src;{inc_dir}</UserIncludeDirectories>",  # noqa: E501
                 "<UserLibraryDirectories></UserLibraryDirectories>": "<UserLibraryDirectories>{lib_dir}</UserLibraryDirectories>",  # noqa: E501
-                "<UserDependencies></UserDependencies>": f"<UserDependencies>zlib.lib;libpng{V['LIBPNG_XY']}.lib;brotlicommon.lib;brotlidec.lib</UserDependencies>",  # noqa: E501
+                "<UserDependencies></UserDependencies>": f"<UserDependencies>zlibstatic.lib;libpng{V['LIBPNG_XY']}.lib;brotlicommon.lib;brotlidec.lib</UserDependencies>",  # noqa: E501
             },
             r"src/autofit/afshaper.c": {
                 # link against harfbuzz.lib