diff --git a/Applications/DataExplorer/DataExplorer.cmake b/Applications/DataExplorer/DataExplorer.cmake
index d5c5b2bde3541ab64e2e125fb5ded0b006cacea3..505828929067dbb42da1fcbe1433e011170d07ee 100644
--- a/Applications/DataExplorer/DataExplorer.cmake
+++ b/Applications/DataExplorer/DataExplorer.cmake
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ set(APP_ICON ${SOURCE_DIR_REL}/scripts/packaging/ogs-de-icon.icns)
 
 # Create the executable
 add_executable(DataExplorer main.cpp ${SOURCES} ${UIS} ${APP_ICON} exe-icon.rc)
+target_compile_definitions(DataExplorer PUBLIC $<$<BOOL:${VTK_ADDED}>:VTK_VIA_CPM>)
 
 target_link_libraries(
     DataExplorer
diff --git a/Applications/DataExplorer/main.cpp b/Applications/DataExplorer/main.cpp
index eb33b1c2368798995fc3130687b6f3c3baef9a06..43fad6b622e958560d17d52185596cf17c207281 100644
--- a/Applications/DataExplorer/main.cpp
+++ b/Applications/DataExplorer/main.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@
 #include "VtkVis/VtkConsoleOutputWindow.h"
 #include "mainwindow.h"
 
+// TODO: Replace this on VTK 9 upgrade, see
+// https://discourse.vtk.org/t/vtk-use-file/3645/2
+#if VTK_VIA_CPM
+#include <vtkAutoInit.h>
+VTK_MODULE_INIT(vtkInteractionStyle)
+VTK_MODULE_INIT(vtkRenderingFreeType)
+VTK_MODULE_INIT(vtkRenderingOpenGL2)
+#endif
+
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     // needed to ensure appropriate OpenGL context is created for VTK rendering.