diff --git a/autotests/testinprocess.cpp b/autotests/testinprocess.cpp
--- a/autotests/testinprocess.cpp
+++ b/autotests/testinprocess.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <QtTest>
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QSignalSpy>
+#include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
 
 #include "../src/backendmanager_p.h"
 #include "../src/getconfigoperation.h"
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@
     explicit TestInProcess(QObject *parent = nullptr);
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
+    void initTestCase();
+
     void init();
     void cleanup();
 
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@
 private:
 
     ConfigPtr m_config;
+    bool m_backendServiceInstalled = false;
 
 };
 
@@ -66,6 +70,21 @@
 {
 }
 
+void TestInProcess::initTestCase()
+{
+    m_backendServiceInstalled = true;
+
+    const QString kscreenServiceName = QStringLiteral("org.kde.KScreen");
+    QDBusConnectionInterface *bus = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().interface();
+    if (!bus->isServiceRegistered(kscreenServiceName)) {
+        auto reply = bus->startService(kscreenServiceName);
+        if (!reply.isValid()) {
+            qDebug() << "D-Bus service org.kde.KScreen could not be started, skipping out-of-process tests";
+            m_backendServiceInstalled = false;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void TestInProcess::init()
 {
     qputenv("KSCREEN_LOGGING", "false");
@@ -118,18 +137,22 @@
     QVERIFY(ic->isValid());
     QVERIFY(ic->outputs().count());
 
+    KScreen::ConfigPtr xc(nullptr);
+    if (m_backendServiceInstalled) {
     qDebug() << "TT xrandr out-of-process";
     // Load the xrandr backend out-of-process
     qputenv("KSCREEN_BACKEND", "QScreen");
     qputenv("KSCREEN_BACKEND_INPROCESS", "0");
     BackendManager::instance()->setMethod(BackendManager::OutOfProcess);
     auto xp = new GetConfigOperation();
     QCOMPARE(BackendManager::instance()->method(), BackendManager::OutOfProcess);
     QVERIFY(xp->exec());
-    auto xc = xp->config();
+    xc = xp->config();
     QVERIFY(xc != nullptr);
     QVERIFY(xc->isValid());
     QVERIFY(xc->outputs().count());
+    }
+
     qDebug() << "TT fake in-process";
 
     qputenv("KSCREEN_BACKEND_INPROCESS", "1");
@@ -146,7 +169,9 @@
 
     QVERIFY(oc->isValid());
     QVERIFY(ic->isValid());
-    QVERIFY(xc->isValid());
+    if (xc) {
+        QVERIFY(xc->isValid());
+    }
     QVERIFY(fc->isValid());
 }
 
@@ -194,6 +219,7 @@
     // Check if all our configs are still valid after the backend is gone
     KScreen::BackendManager::instance()->shutdownBackend();
 
+    if (m_backendServiceInstalled) {
     //qputenv("KSCREEN_BACKEND", "QScreen");
     qputenv("KSCREEN_BACKEND_INPROCESS", "0");
     BackendManager::instance()->setMethod(BackendManager::OutOfProcess);
@@ -227,6 +253,7 @@
     qDebug() << "cached oop: " << ((qreal)t_x_warm / 1000000);
     qDebug() << "cold in process:   " << ((qreal)t_cold / 1000000);
     qDebug() << "cached in process: " << ((qreal)t_warm / 1000000);
+    }
 }
 
 void TestInProcess::testCreateJob()
@@ -243,7 +270,7 @@
         QVERIFY(cc != nullptr);
         QVERIFY(cc->isValid());
     }
-    {
+    if (m_backendServiceInstalled) {
         BackendManager::instance()->setMethod(BackendManager::OutOfProcess);
         auto op = new GetConfigOperation();
         auto _op = qobject_cast<GetConfigOperation*>(op);