diff --git a/Utilities/cmtar/config.h.in b/Utilities/cmtar/config.h.in
index ce87858fb..948afde5a 100644
--- a/Utilities/cmtar/config.h.in
+++ b/Utilities/cmtar/config.h.in
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@
 /* Define to 1 if you have the `z' library (-lz). */
 #cmakedefine HAVE_LIBZ @HAVE_LIBZ@
 
+/* Define to 1 if you have the VTK's `z' library */
+#cmakedefine HAVE_VTK_LIBZ @HAVE_VTK_LIBZ@
+
 /* Define to 1 if the system has the type `major_t'. */
 #cmakedefine HAVE_MAJOR_T @HAVE_MAJOR_T@
 
diff --git a/Utilities/cmtar/libtar.c b/Utilities/cmtar/libtar.c
index e470da59a..9131512d9 100644
--- a/Utilities/cmtar/libtar.c
+++ b/Utilities/cmtar/libtar.c
@@ -36,8 +36,17 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBZ
+#ifdef HAVE_VTK_LIBZ
+# include <vtkzlib/zlib.h>
+# define cm_zlib_gzdopen gzdopen
+# define cm_zlib_gzclose gzclose
+# define cm_zlib_gzread gzread
+# define cm_zlib_gzwrite gzwrite
+
+#else
 # include <cmzlib/zlib.h>
 #endif
+#endif
 
 #include <libtar/compat.h>