diff --git a/CMake/curl-config.cmake.in b/CMake/curl-config.cmake.in
index 4612d56b4c..aa9eb51ffd 100644
--- a/CMake/curl-config.cmake.in
+++ b/CMake/curl-config.cmake.in
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 ###########################################################################
 @PACKAGE_INIT@
 
-if(UNIX OR VCPKG_TOOLCHAIN OR MINGW)  # Keep in sync with root CMakeLists.txt
+if(UNIX OR VCPKG_TOOLCHAIN OR (MINGW AND NOT CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING))  # Keep in sync with root CMakeLists.txt
   set(_curl_use_pkgconfig_default ON)
 else()
   set(_curl_use_pkgconfig_default OFF)
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index af21d81848..eae5925d64 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 # Override to force-disable or force-enable the use of pkg-config.
-if(UNIX OR VCPKG_TOOLCHAIN OR MINGW)  # Keep in sync with CMake/curl-config.cmake.in
+if(UNIX OR VCPKG_TOOLCHAIN OR (MINGW AND NOT CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING))  # Keep in sync with CMake/curl-config.cmake.in
   set(_curl_use_pkgconfig_default ON)
 else()
   set(_curl_use_pkgconfig_default OFF)
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL-CMAKE.md b/docs/INSTALL-CMAKE.md
index 507d5fd48f..ec3c876c4a 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL-CMAKE.md
+++ b/docs/INSTALL-CMAKE.md
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ Details via CMake
 - `CURL_USE_LIBUV`:                         Use libuv for event-based tests. Default: `OFF`
 - `CURL_USE_MBEDTLS`:                       Enable mbedTLS for SSL/TLS. Default: `OFF`
 - `CURL_USE_OPENSSL`:                       Enable OpenSSL for SSL/TLS. Default: `ON` if no other TLS backend was enabled.
-- `CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG`:                     Enable `pkg-config` to detect dependencies. Default: `ON` for Unix, vcpkg, MinGW.
+- `CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG`:                     Enable `pkg-config` to detect dependencies. Default: `ON` for Unix, vcpkg, MinGW if not cross-compiling.
 - `CURL_USE_RUSTLS`:                        Enable Rustls for SSL/TLS. Default: `OFF`
 - `CURL_USE_SCHANNEL`:                      Enable Windows native SSL/TLS (Schannel). Default: `OFF`
 - `CURL_USE_SECTRANSP`:                     Enable Apple OS native SSL/TLS (Secure Transport). Default: `OFF`