diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -87,7 +87,9 @@
 add_feature_info(Solid::PowerManagement WITH_NEW_POWER_ASYNC_FREEDESKTOP "WIP: Freedesktop backend for the asynchronous api")
 
 add_subdirectory(src)
-add_subdirectory(autotests)
+if (BUILD_TESTING)
+    add_subdirectory(autotests)
+endif()
 
 # create a Config.cmake and a ConfigVersion.cmake file and install them
 set(CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR "${KDE_INSTALL_CMAKEPACKAGEDIR}/KF5Solid")