diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bb2a3f1..93a4be6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -390,6 +390,12 @@ if(ENABLE_GMSH)
     list(APPEND EXTERNAL_INCLUDES ${GMSH_INC} ${GMSH_INC}/gmsh)
     set_config_option(HAVE_GMSH "Gmsh")
   endif()
+  # gmsh debian package installation uses system-wide eigen installation
+  # rather than contib installation
+  find_path(EIGEN_INC "Eigen/Dense" PATH_SUFFIXES eigen3)
+  if(EIGEN_INC)
+    include_directories(${EIGEN_INC})
+  endif()
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SMALLFEM)