diff --git a/src/cmake/build_Freetype.cmake b/src/cmake/build_Freetype.cmake
index f22a391a7a..a262c0de2d 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_Freetype.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_Freetype.cmake
@@ -39,12 +39,9 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(Freetype
         -D CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5
 )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-
-set (Freetype_ROOT ${Freetype_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (Freetype_REFIND TRUE)
+set (Freetype_REFIND_VERSION ${Freetype_BUILD_VERSION})
 set (Freetype_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 
 if (Freetype_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_GIF.cmake b/src/cmake/build_GIF.cmake
index ca8a362099..1a1cc63b64 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_GIF.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_GIF.cmake
@@ -30,11 +30,10 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(GIF
 unset(GIF_CMAKELISTS_TEMPLATE_PATH)
 
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (GIF_ROOT ${GIF_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
-find_package (GIF ${GIF_BUILD_VERSION} EXACT CONFIG REQUIRED)
+set (GIF_REFIND TRUE)
+set (GIF_REFIND_VERSION ${GIF_BUILD_VERSION})
+set (GIF_REFIND_ARGS EXACT CONFIG)
 
 if (GIF_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     install_local_dependency_libs (GIF GIF)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_OpenColorIO.cmake b/src/cmake/build_OpenColorIO.cmake
index 1eb314d8a6..5863c6ca70 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_OpenColorIO.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_OpenColorIO.cmake
@@ -16,14 +16,6 @@ set_cache (OpenColorIO_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS  OFF
 # it all work with the static dependencies, it just makes things complicated
 # downstream.
 
-# Clear variables from the failed find_package
-unset (OPENCOLORIO_LIBRARY)
-unset (OPENCOLORIO_INCLUDE_DIR)
-unset (FIND_PACKAGE_MESSAGE_DETAILS_OpenColorIO)
-unset (OPENCOLORIO_VERSION_MAJOR)
-unset (OPENCOLORIO_VERSION_MINOR)
-unset (OpenColorIO_DIR)
-
 checked_find_package(pystring VERSION_MIN 1.1.3)
 checked_find_package(expat REQUIRED VERSION_MIN 2.6)
 checked_find_package(yaml-cpp REQUIRED VERSION_MIN 0.8.0)
@@ -58,15 +50,10 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(OpenColorIO
         -D CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (OpenColorIO_ROOT ${OpenColorIO_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (OpenColorIO_DIR ${OpenColorIO_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
-# set (OpenColorIO_REFIND TRUE)
-# set (OpenColorIO_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
-find_package (OpenColorIO ${OpenColorIO_BUILD_VERSION} EXACT CONFIG REQUIRED)
-find_package(pystring REQUIRED)
+set (OpenColorIO_REFIND TRUE)
+set (OpenColorIO_REFIND_VERSION ${OpenColorIO_BUILD_VERSION})
+set (OpenColorIO_REFIND_ARGS EXACT CONFIG)
 
 if (OpenColorIO_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     install_local_dependency_libs (OpenColorIO OpenColorIO)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_OpenJPEG.cmake b/src/cmake/build_OpenJPEG.cmake
index 50fb57bde7..b6f1958c1d 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_OpenJPEG.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_OpenJPEG.cmake
@@ -22,14 +22,9 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(OpenJPEG
         -D BUILD_CODEC=OFF 
         -D CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE=ON
     )
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (OpenJPEG_ROOT ${OpenJPEG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (OpenJPEG_VERSION ${OpenJPEG_BUILD_VERSION})
-set (OPENJPEG_VERSION ${OpenJPEG_BUILD_VERSION})
-
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (OpenJPEG_REFIND TRUE)
+set (OpenJPEG_REFIND_VERSION ${OpenJPEG_BUILD_VERSION})
 set (OpenJPEG_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 set_invert (OpenJPEG_LINKSTATIC ${OpenJPEG_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS})
 
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_PNG.cmake b/src/cmake/build_PNG.cmake
index 993ad33dc3..6de451f38b 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_PNG.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_PNG.cmake
@@ -20,18 +20,6 @@ if (PNG_BUILD_USE_CUSTOM_PREFIX)
 endif ()
 string (MAKE_C_IDENTIFIER ${PNG_BUILD_VERSION} PNG_VERSION_IDENT)
 
-unset (PNG_FOUND)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY_RELEASE)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY_DEBUG)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARIES)
-unset (PNG_INCLUDE_DIRS)
-unset (PNG_INCLUDE_DIR)
-unset (PNG_PNG_INCLUDE_DIR)
-unset (PNG_VERSION_STRING)
-unset (PNG_DEFINITIONS)
-unset (PNG_VERSION)
-
 build_dependency_with_cmake (PNG
     VERSION         ${PNG_BUILD_VERSION}
     GIT_REPOSITORY  ${PNG_BUILD_GIT_REPOSITORY}
@@ -49,34 +37,17 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake (PNG
         ${PNG_BUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS}
     )
 
-    
-set (PNG_REFIND FALSE)
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location.
+# HINTS + NO_DEFAULT_PATH keep this from ever picking up a system PNG.
+set (PNG_REFIND TRUE)
 set (PNG_REFIND_VERSION ${PNG_BUILD_VERSION})
-set (PNG_REFIND_ARGS EXACT REQUIRED)
-set (PNG_FIND_VERSION_EXACT ON)
-unset (PNG_FOUND)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY_RELEASE)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARY_DEBUG)
-unset (PNG_LIBRARIES)
-unset (PNG_INCLUDE_DIRS)
-unset (PNG_INCLUDE_DIR)
-unset (PNG_PNG_INCLUDE_DIR)
-unset (PNG_VERSION_STRING)
-unset (PNG_DEFINITIONS)
-unset (PNG_VERSION)
-
+set (PNG_REFIND_ARGS EXACT
+     HINTS ${PNG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/cmake/PNG ${PNG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}
+     NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
 if (PNG_BUILD_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 1.6.43)
     list (APPEND PNG_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 endif ()
 
-find_package(PNG ${PNG_REFIND_VERSION} ${PNG_REFIND_ARGS}
-             HINTS 
-                    ${PNG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/cmake/PNG
-                    ${PNG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}
-             NO_DEFAULT_PATH
-            )
-
 set (PNG_INCLUDE_DIRS ${PNG_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}/include)
 include_directories(BEFORE ${PNG_INCLUDE_DIRS})
 
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_TIFF.cmake b/src/cmake/build_TIFF.cmake
index 228c8b78ed..4be60e4baa 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_TIFF.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_TIFF.cmake
@@ -51,15 +51,9 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(TIFF
         ${MORE_TIFF_CMAKE_ARGS}
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-
-set (TIFF_ROOT ${TIFF_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (TIFF_DIR ${TIFF_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (TIFF_VERSION ${TIFF_BUILD_VERSION})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
-# set (TIFF_REFIND TRUE)
-find_package (TIFF REQUIRED)
+set (TIFF_REFIND TRUE)
+set (TIFF_REFIND_VERSION ${TIFF_BUILD_VERSION})
 
 if (TIFF_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     install_local_dependency_libs (TIFF TIFF)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_WebP.cmake b/src/cmake/build_WebP.cmake
index ddf991b929..e5b431f806 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_WebP.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_WebP.cmake
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(WebP
         -D CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR=lib
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (WebP_ROOT ${WebP_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (WebP_REFIND TRUE)
 set (WebP_REFIND_VERSION ${WebP_BUILD_VERSION})
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_ZLIB.cmake b/src/cmake/build_ZLIB.cmake
index 24257d8e95..3c53aa56c3 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_ZLIB.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_ZLIB.cmake
@@ -30,12 +30,8 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(ZLIB
         -D CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (ZLIB_ROOT ${ZLIB_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (ZLIB_REFIND TRUE)
-set (ZLIB_VERSION ${ZLIB_BUILD_VERSION})
 set (ZLIB_REFIND_VERSION ${ZLIB_BUILD_VERSION})
 
 if (ZLIB_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_expat.cmake b/src/cmake/build_expat.cmake
index 9b7471b4df..1e5250c967 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_expat.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_expat.cmake
@@ -41,18 +41,10 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(expat
         -D EXPAT_SHARED_LIBS=${expat_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS}
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (expat_REFIND TRUE)
-set (expat_VERSION ${expat_BUILD_VERSION})
-set (expat_DIR ${expat_ROOT}/lib/cmake/expat-${expat_VERSION})
-
-if (WIN32)
-    # Set the expat_LIBRARY variable to the full path to ${EXPAT_LIBRARIES}.
-    # For some reason, find_package(expat) behaves differently on Windows
-    find_package (expat ${expat_BUILD_VERSION} EXACT REQUIRED)
-    set_cache(expat_LIBRARY ${EXPAT_LIBRARIES} "Full path to the expat library")
-    message(STATUS "expat_LIBRARY = ${expat_LIBRARY}")
-endif ()
+set (expat_REFIND_VERSION ${expat_BUILD_VERSION})
+set (expat_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 
 if (expat_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     install_local_dependency_libs (expat expat)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_fmt.cmake b/src/cmake/build_fmt.cmake
index 5df8f6add3..21468b90a1 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_fmt.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_fmt.cmake
@@ -27,4 +27,5 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(fmt
 
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (fmt_REFIND TRUE)
+set (fmt_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 set (fmt_VERSION ${fmt_BUILD_VERSION})
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_libdeflate.cmake b/src/cmake/build_libdeflate.cmake
index 8b95b523dc..dc5765dd72 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_libdeflate.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_libdeflate.cmake
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(libdeflate
         -D LIBDEFLATE_BUILD_GZIP=OFF
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-
-set (libdeflate_ROOT ${libdeflate_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (libdeflate_REFIND TRUE)
 set (libdeflate_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_libjpeg-turbo.cmake b/src/cmake/build_libjpeg-turbo.cmake
index 315a3445a6..7133d5b525 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_libjpeg-turbo.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_libjpeg-turbo.cmake
@@ -23,12 +23,9 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(libjpeg-turbo
         -D CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE=1
 
     )
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (libjpeg-turbo_ROOT ${libjpeg-turbo_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (libjpeg-turbo_REFIND TRUE)
+set (libjpeg-turbo_REFIND_VERSION ${libjpeg-turbo_BUILD_VERSION})
 set (libjpeg-turbo_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 
 if (libjpeg-turbo_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_libuhdr.cmake b/src/cmake/build_libuhdr.cmake
index 4f78d6860f..09f0930cbf 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_libuhdr.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_libuhdr.cmake
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ if (WIN32)
     unset (_header_files)
 endif ()
 
-set (libuhdr_ROOT ${libuhdr_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-
-find_package(libuhdr REQUIRED)
-
-set (libuhdr_VERSION ${libuhdr_BUILD_VERSION})
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location.
+# libuhdr has no upstream CMake package config, only our own MODULE-mode
+# Findlibuhdr.cmake, so REFIND_ARGS must not force CONFIG.
+set (libuhdr_REFIND TRUE)
+set (libuhdr_REFIND_VERSION ${libuhdr_BUILD_VERSION})
 
 if (libuhdr_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
     install_local_dependency_libs (uhdr uhdr)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_minizip-ng.cmake b/src/cmake/build_minizip-ng.cmake
index eddc034c8b..b13a861d13 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_minizip-ng.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_minizip-ng.cmake
@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(minizip-ng
     )
 
 
-set (minizip-ng_DIR ${minizip-ng_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/cmake/minizip-ng)
-set (minizip-ng_VERSION ${minizip-ng_BUILD_VERSION})
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (minizip-ng_REFIND TRUE)
 set (minizip-ng_REFIND_VERSION ${minizip-ng_BUILD_VERSION})
-set (minizip-ng_REFIND_ARGS REQUIRED)
+set (minizip-ng_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_openjph.cmake b/src/cmake/build_openjph.cmake
index 88e76f9075..fae6881b1e 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_openjph.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_openjph.cmake
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(openjph
         -D CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${openjph_CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
     )
 
-# Set some things up that we'll need for a subsequent find_package to work
-set (openjph_ROOT ${openjph_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (openjph_VERSION ${openjph_BUILD_VERSION})
-
 # Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (openjph_REFIND TRUE)
 set (openjph_REFIND_VERSION ${openjph_BUILD_VERSION})
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_pystring.cmake b/src/cmake/build_pystring.cmake
index b3456f3928..f587c769f5 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_pystring.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_pystring.cmake
@@ -27,12 +27,10 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(pystring
         -D CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR=lib
 )
 
-set (pystring_VERSION ${pystring_BUILD_VERSION})
-unset (PYSTRING_LIBRARY)
-unset (PYSTRING_INCLUDE_DIR)
-
-set (pystring_REFIND FALSE)
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
+set (pystring_REFIND TRUE)
 set (pystring_REFIND_VERSION ${pystring_BUILD_VERSION})
+set (pystring_VERSION ${pystring_BUILD_VERSION})
 
 
 if (pystring_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/cmake/build_yaml-cpp.cmake b/src/cmake/build_yaml-cpp.cmake
index ba55e2a06a..344f99e813 100644
--- a/src/cmake/build_yaml-cpp.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/build_yaml-cpp.cmake
@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@ build_dependency_with_cmake(yaml-cpp
         -D CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5
     )
 
-set (yaml-cpp_ROOT ${yaml-cpp_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (yaml-cpp_DIR ${yaml-cpp_LOCAL_INSTALL_DIR})
-set (yaml-cpp_VERSION ${yaml-cpp_BUILD_VERSION})
-
+# Signal to caller that we need to find again at the installed location
 set (yaml-cpp_REFIND TRUE)
 set (yaml-cpp_REFIND_ARGS CONFIG)
 set (yaml-cpp_REFIND_VERSION ${yaml-cpp_BUILD_VERSION})
diff --git a/src/cmake/dependency_utils.cmake b/src/cmake/dependency_utils.cmake
index b103b95b30..5d8fd72a5d 100644
--- a/src/cmake/dependency_utils.cmake
+++ b/src/cmake/dependency_utils.cmake
@@ -469,6 +469,26 @@ macro (checked_find_package pkgname)
         #   ${pkgname}_REFIND_ARGS    : additional arguments to pass to find_package
         if (${pkgname}_REFIND)
             message (STATUS "Refinding ${pkgname} with ${pkgname}_ROOT=${${pkgname}_ROOT}")
+            # A prior find_package() may have left a bunch of cruft from a
+            # rejected, unsuitable system install in its Find module. Clear it
+            # here so it does not pollute our attempt to use the one we just
+            # built and are about to re-find.
+            foreach (_v IN ITEMS
+                     ${pkgname}_LIBRARY ${pkgname}_LIBRARIES
+                     ${pkgname}_LIBRARY_RELEASE ${pkgname}_LIBRARY_DEBUG
+                     ${pkgname}_INCLUDE_DIR ${pkgname}_INCLUDE_DIRS
+                     ${pkgname_upper}_LIBRARY ${pkgname_upper}_LIBRARIES
+                     ${pkgname_upper}_LIBRARY_RELEASE ${pkgname_upper}_LIBRARY_DEBUG
+                     ${pkgname_upper}_INCLUDE_DIR ${pkgname_upper}_INCLUDE_DIRS)
+                unset (${_v})
+                unset (${_v} CACHE)
+            endforeach ()
+            # Same for a stale <Pkg>_DIR (the CONFIG-mode search hint).
+            # CACHE-only: some build scripts set it as a plain variable on
+            # purpose as a hint for this find_package() call.
+            foreach (_v IN ITEMS ${pkgname}_DIR ${pkgname_upper}_DIR)
+                unset (${_v} CACHE)
+            endforeach ()
             find_package (${pkgname} ${${pkgname}_REFIND_VERSION} REQUIRED ${_pkg_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS} ${${pkgname}_REFIND_ARGS})
             unset (${pkgname}_REFIND)
         endif()