diff --git a/.github/workflows/version_check.yml b/.github/workflows/version_check.yml
index 3be88b2720..4ad613ec17 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/version_check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/version_check.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           # Verify that the version in version.h matches the tag
-          if [[ "${{ steps.versions.outputs.current_tag }}" != "v${CODE_VERSION}" ]]; then
+          if [[ "${{ steps.versions.outputs.current_tag }}" != "${CODE_VERSION}" ]]; then
             echo "::error::Version mismatch: tag=${{ steps.versions.outputs.current_tag }} ≠ code=${CODE_VERSION}"
             exit 1
           fi
diff --git a/cmake/FindMKL.cmake b/cmake/FindMKL.cmake
index a0c389b5ae..f9cddfcf74 100644
--- a/cmake/FindMKL.cmake
+++ b/cmake/FindMKL.cmake
@@ -91,5 +91,12 @@ endif()
 if(NOT TARGET MKL::MKL_SCALAPACK)
   find_library(MKL_SCALAPACK NAMES mkl_scalapack_lp64 HINTS ${MKLROOT}/lib ${MKLROOT}/lib/intel64)
   message(STATUS "Found MKL_SCALAPACK: ${MKL_SCALAPACK}")
-  add_library(MKL::MKL_SCALAPACK OBJECT IMPORTED MKL_SCALAPACK)
+  if(MKL_SCALAPACK)
+    # create an IMPORTED target that points to the discovered library file
+    add_library(MKL::MKL_SCALAPACK UNKNOWN IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(MKL::MKL_SCALAPACK PROPERTIES
+      IMPORTED_LOCATION "${MKL_SCALAPACK}"
+      INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES "${MKL_INCLUDE}"
+    )
+  endif()
 endif()