diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1085b545a9..11c9b878e7 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ if (MSVC)
     add_compile_options("$<$<COMPILE_LANGUAGE:CXX>:/bigobj>")
 endif()
 
+if (LLAMA_STANDALONE)
+    # enable parallel builds for msbuild
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_VS_GLOBALS UseMultiToolTask=true)
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_VS_GLOBALS EnforceProcessCountAcrossBuilds=true)
+endif()
+
 if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "iOS")
     set(LLAMA_TOOLS_INSTALL_DEFAULT OFF)
 else()