diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -51,18 +51,6 @@
     PURPOSE "Required for the Predicate parser"
 )
 
-option(UDEV_DISABLED "Allows disabling UDev usage on Linux builds" OFF)
-if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES Linux AND NOT UDEV_DISABLED)
-    find_package( UDev )
-    if (UDev_FOUND)
-        set(UDEV_FOUND TRUE) # for config-solid.h
-    endif()
-
-    set_package_properties(UDev PROPERTIES TYPE REQUIRED
-                                            PURPOSE "Allows Solid to use UDev to provide information about devices on Linux"
-                            )
-endif()
-
 
 include(ECMPoQmTools)
 
@@ -92,6 +80,49 @@
 option(WITH_NEW_POWER_ASYNC_FREEDESKTOP "WIP: Freedesktop backend for the asynchronous api" Off)
 add_feature_info(Solid::PowerManagement WITH_NEW_POWER_ASYNC_FREEDESKTOP "WIP: Freedesktop backend for the asynchronous api")
 
+include(SolidBackendsMacros)
+
+add_device_backends_begin()
+add_device_backend(fakehw)
+if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES Linux)
+    option(UDEV_DISABLED "Allows disabling UDev usage on Linux builds" OFF)
+    if (NOT UDEV_DISABLED)
+        find_package(UDev REQUIRED)
+        set_package_properties(UDev PROPERTIES
+            TYPE REQUIRED
+            PURPOSE "Allows Solid to use UDev to provide information about devices on Linux"
+        )
+    endif()
+    if (UDev_FOUND)
+        set(UDEV_FOUND TRUE) # for config-solid.h
+        add_device_backend(udev)
+    endif()
+    add_device_backend(udisks2)
+    add_device_backend(fstab)
+    add_device_backend(upower)
+elseif (APPLE)
+    find_package(IOKit REQUIRED)
+    add_device_backend(iokit)
+elseif (WIN32)
+    add_device_backend(win)
+elseif (NOT ANDROID)
+    add_device_backend(upower)
+    add_device_backend(fstab)
+
+    if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES FreeBSD)
+        # FIXME: this should work on more Unix systems
+        option(EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS "Use UDisks2/bsdisks backend instead of HAL to manage disk devices" OFF)
+    else ()
+        set(EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS FALSE)
+    endif()
+    if(EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS)
+        add_device_backend(udisks2)
+    else()
+        add_device_backend(hal)
+    endif()
+endif()
+add_device_backends_cmake()
+
 add_subdirectory(src)
 if (BUILD_TESTING)
     add_subdirectory(autotests)
diff --git a/cmake/SolidBackendsMacros.cmake b/cmake/SolidBackendsMacros.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/SolidBackendsMacros.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# Helper macros for dealing with device backends.
+
+# Copyright (c) 2019, Pino Toscano <pino@kde.org>
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+# are met:
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# 3. Neither the name of the University nor the names of its contributors
+#    may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+#    without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE REGENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+# ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE REGENTS OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+# SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# "Begin" the device backends addition, to be called *before* all the order
+# add_device_backend* macros
+macro(add_device_backends_begin)
+    set(ENABLED_DEVICE_BACKENDS)
+endmacro()
+
+# Macro to add a new device backend; a new cmake option is automatically added
+# to disable the build of that backend, available as
+# BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_$name.
+macro(add_device_backend backend)
+    _add_device_backend(${backend} "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}")
+endmacro()
+
+# Internal implementation of add_device_backend, mostly to pass the right
+# source directory (in case of a function is the file containing that
+# function).
+function(_add_device_backend backend source_dir)
+    set(cmakelists_path "${source_dir}/src/solid/devices/backends/${backend}/CMakeLists.txt")
+    if(NOT (EXISTS "${cmakelists_path}"))
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "Missing CMakeLists.txt for backend ${backend}")
+    endif()
+
+    option(BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_${backend} "Build the backend ${backend}" ON)
+    if(NOT BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_${backend})
+        return()
+    endif()
+
+    set(backends ${ENABLED_DEVICE_BACKENDS})
+    list(APPEND backends ${backend})
+    set(ENABLED_DEVICE_BACKENDS ${backends} PARENT_SCOPE)
+endfunction()
+
+# After all the add_device_backend()s are called, create all the cmake
+# material:
+# - the BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_$name cmake variables, used to conditionally
+#   add stuff depending whether a backend is built
+# - a feature info, to show that that backend was enabled
+macro(add_device_backends_cmake)
+    foreach(backend ${ENABLED_DEVICE_BACKENDS})
+        set(BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_${backend} TRUE)
+        add_feature_info(${backend} TRUE "Solid device '${backend}' backend.")
+    endforeach()
+endmacro()
+
+# After all the add_device_backend()s are called, create/collect all the
+# material used for the build:
+# - create a config-backends.h file in the current binary directory, with
+#   BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_$name defines for all the built backends
+# - fill the sources_var, and libs_var variables resp. with the sources,
+#   and the libraries needed for all the built backends
+macro(add_device_backends_build base_backends_dir sources_var libs_var)
+    foreach(backend ${ENABLED_DEVICE_BACKENDS})
+        string(APPEND config_backends_output "#define BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_${backend} 1\n")
+        unset(backend_sources)
+        unset(backend_libs)
+        include("${base_backends_dir}/${backend}/CMakeLists.txt")
+        foreach(source ${backend_sources})
+            if(NOT (IS_ABSOLUTE ${source}))
+                set(source "${base_backends_dir}/${backend}/${source}")
+            endif()
+            list(APPEND ${sources_var} "${source}")
+        endforeach()
+        list(APPEND ${libs_var} ${backend_libs})
+    endforeach()
+    file(WRITE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-backends.h" "${config_backends_output}")
+endmacro()
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -93,38 +93,6 @@
 add_flex_bison_dependency(SolidLexer SolidParser)
 list(APPEND solid_LIB_SRCS ${BISON_SolidParser_OUTPUTS} ${FLEX_SolidLexer_OUTPUTS})
 
-include(devices/backends/fakehw/CMakeLists.txt)
-
-if(NOT WIN32 AND NOT APPLE AND NOT ANDROID)
-   if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES FreeBSD)
-      option(EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS "Use UDisks2/bsdisks backend instead of HAL to manage disk devices" OFF)
-   else ()
-      set(EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS FALSE)
-   endif()
-
-   if ( UDev_FOUND )
-      message(STATUS "Building Solid UDev backend." )
-      include(devices/backends/udev/CMakeLists.txt)
-   endif()
-
-   message(STATUS "Building Solid UPower backend." )
-   include(devices/backends/upower/CMakeLists.txt)
-
-   # FIXME: this should work on more Unix systems
-   if ((CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES Linux AND UDev_FOUND) OR EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS)
-        message(STATUS "Building Solid UDisks2 backend." )
-        include(devices/backends/udisks2/CMakeLists.txt)
-   endif ()
-
-   message(STATUS "Building Solid fstab backend." )
-   include(devices/backends/fstab/CMakeLists.txt)
-
-    if (NOT CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES Linux)
-        message(STATUS "Building Solid HAL backend." )
-        include(devices/backends/hal/CMakeLists.txt)
-    endif()
-endif()
-
 include(CheckIncludeFiles)
 include(CheckFunctionExists)
 include(CheckCXXSourceCompiles)
@@ -152,29 +120,6 @@
 
 configure_file(devices/config-solid.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-solid.h )
 
-if(APPLE)
-   find_package(IOKit REQUIRED)
-
-   message(STATUS "-- Building Solid IOKit backend." )
-   include(devices/backends/iokit/CMakeLists.txt)
-endif()
-
-if(WIN32)
-    message(STATUS "-- Building Solid Windows backend." )
-    include(devices/backends/win/CMakeLists.txt)
-endif()
-
 set(solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS)
 
-if(WIN32)
-    set(solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS ${solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS} Qt5::Network setupapi)
-    set(solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS ${solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS} setupapi)
-endif()
-
-if(APPLE)
-   set(solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS ${IOKIT_LIBRARY} "-framework DiskArbitration")
-endif()
-
-if ( UDev_FOUND )
-   set(solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS ${solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS} UDev::UDev)
-endif ()
+add_device_backends_build("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/devices/backends" solid_LIB_SRCS solid_OPTIONAL_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/fakehw/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/fakehw/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/fakehw/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/fakehw/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakebattery.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakeblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakecamera.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakecdrom.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakedevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakedeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakegenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakemanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakenetworkshare.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakeopticaldisc.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakeportablemediaplayer.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakeprocessor.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakestorage.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakestorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/fakehw/fakevolume.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    fakebattery.cpp
+    fakeblock.cpp
+    fakecamera.cpp
+    fakecdrom.cpp
+    fakedevice.cpp
+    fakedeviceinterface.cpp
+    fakegenericinterface.cpp
+    fakemanager.cpp
+    fakenetworkshare.cpp
+    fakeopticaldisc.cpp
+    fakeportablemediaplayer.cpp
+    fakeprocessor.cpp
+    fakestorage.cpp
+    fakestorageaccess.cpp
+    fakevolume.cpp
 )
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/fstab/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/fstab/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/fstab/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/fstab/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabmanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabdevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabnetworkshare.cpp
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabstorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabhandling.cpp
-    devices/backends/fstab/fstabwatcher.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    fstabmanager.cpp
+    fstabdevice.cpp
+    fstabnetworkshare.cpp
+    fstabstorageaccess.cpp
+    fstabhandling.cpp
+    fstabwatcher.cpp
 )
 
-ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(solid_LIB_SRCS
+ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(backend_sources
                                 HEADER fstab_debug.h
                                 IDENTIFIER Solid::Backends::Fstab::FSTAB
                                 DEFAULT_SEVERITY Warning
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/hal/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/hal/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/hal/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/hal/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/hal/halbattery.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halcamera.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halcdrom.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/haldeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halfstabhandling.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halgenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/haldevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halmanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halopticaldisc.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halportablemediaplayer.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halprocessor.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halstorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halstorage.cpp
-    devices/backends/hal/halvolume.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    halbattery.cpp
+    halblock.cpp
+    halcamera.cpp
+    halcdrom.cpp
+    haldeviceinterface.cpp
+    halfstabhandling.cpp
+    halgenericinterface.cpp
+    haldevice.cpp
+    halmanager.cpp
+    halopticaldisc.cpp
+    halportablemediaplayer.cpp
+    halprocessor.cpp
+    halstorageaccess.cpp
+    halstorage.cpp
+    halvolume.cpp
 )
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/iokit/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/iokit/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/iokit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/iokit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,19 +2,20 @@
     ${Qt5Core_PRIVATE_INCLUDE_DIRS}
 )
 
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitmanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitdevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/cfhelper.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/dadictionary.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitdeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitgenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitprocessor.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitbattery.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitstorage.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitvolume.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitstorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitopticaldrive.cpp
-    devices/backends/iokit/iokitopticaldisc.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    iokitmanager.cpp
+    iokitdevice.cpp
+    cfhelper.cpp
+    dadictionary.cpp
+    iokitdeviceinterface.cpp
+    iokitgenericinterface.cpp
+    iokitprocessor.cpp
+    iokitbattery.cpp
+    iokitblock.cpp
+    iokitstorage.cpp
+    iokitvolume.cpp
+    iokitstorageaccess.cpp
+    iokitopticaldrive.cpp
+    iokitopticaldisc.cpp
 )
+set(backend_libs ${IOKIT_LIBRARY} "-framework DiskArbitration")
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/udev/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/udev/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/udev/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/udev/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/udev/udevdevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevmanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevdeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevgenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/cpuinfo.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevprocessor.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevcamera.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevportablemediaplayer.cpp
-    devices/backends/udev/udevblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/shared/udevqtclient.cpp
-    devices/backends/shared/udevqtdevice.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    udevdevice.cpp
+    udevmanager.cpp
+    udevdeviceinterface.cpp
+    udevgenericinterface.cpp
+    cpuinfo.cpp
+    udevprocessor.cpp
+    udevcamera.cpp
+    udevportablemediaplayer.cpp
+    udevblock.cpp
+    ../shared/udevqtclient.cpp
+    ../shared/udevqtdevice.cpp
 )
+set(backend_libs UDev::UDev)
 
 set(UDEV_DETAILED_OUTPUT OFF CACHE BOOL "provide extended output regarding udev events")
 if(UDEV_DETAILED_OUTPUT)
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/udisks2/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/udisks2/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/udisks2/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/udisks2/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksmanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksdevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksdevicebackend.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksstoragevolume.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksdeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksopticaldisc.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksopticaldrive.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksstoragedrive.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksstorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/udisksgenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/udisks2/dbus/manager.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    udisksmanager.cpp
+    udisksdevice.cpp
+    udisksdevicebackend.cpp
+    udisksblock.cpp
+    udisksstoragevolume.cpp
+    udisksdeviceinterface.cpp
+    udisksopticaldisc.cpp
+    udisksopticaldrive.cpp
+    udisksstoragedrive.cpp
+    udisksstorageaccess.cpp
+    udisksgenericinterface.cpp
+    dbus/manager.cpp
 )
 
-ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(solid_LIB_SRCS
+ecm_qt_declare_logging_category(backend_sources
                                 HEADER udisks_debug.h
                                 IDENTIFIER Solid::Backends::UDisks2::UDISKS2
                                 DEFAULT_SEVERITY Warning
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/upower/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/upower/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/upower/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/upower/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/upower/upowermanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/upower/upowerdevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/upower/upowerbattery.cpp
-    devices/backends/upower/upowerdeviceinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/upower/upowergenericinterface.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    upowermanager.cpp
+    upowerdevice.cpp
+    upowerbattery.cpp
+    upowerdeviceinterface.cpp
+    upowergenericinterface.cpp
 )
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/backends/win/CMakeLists.txt b/src/solid/devices/backends/win/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/solid/devices/backends/win/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/solid/devices/backends/win/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
-set(solid_LIB_SRCS ${solid_LIB_SRCS}
-    devices/backends/win/winblock.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winopticaldrive.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/wininterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/wingenericinterface.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/windevice.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/windevicemanager.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winopticaldisc.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winprocessor.cpp
-    #devices/backends/win/wmiportablemediaplayer.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winstorageaccess.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winstoragedrive.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winstoragevolume.cpp
-    devices/backends/win/winbattery.cpp
+set(backend_sources
+    winblock.cpp
+    winopticaldrive.cpp
+    wininterface.cpp
+    wingenericinterface.cpp
+    windevice.cpp
+    windevicemanager.cpp
+    winopticaldisc.cpp
+    winprocessor.cpp
+    #wmiportablemediaplayer.cpp
+    winstorageaccess.cpp
+    winstoragedrive.cpp
+    winstoragevolume.cpp
+    winbattery.cpp
 )
+set(backend_libs Qt5::Network setupapi)
diff --git a/src/solid/devices/managerbase.cpp b/src/solid/devices/managerbase.cpp
--- a/src/solid/devices/managerbase.cpp
+++ b/src/solid/devices/managerbase.cpp
@@ -21,26 +21,33 @@
 #include "managerbase_p.h"
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#if !defined (Q_OS_WIN) && !defined (Q_OS_MAC)
-#include <config-solid.h>
-#endif
 
-#include "backends/fakehw/fakemanager.h"
+#include <config-backends.h>
 
-#if defined (Q_OS_MAC)
-#include "backends/iokit/iokitmanager.h"
-#elif defined (Q_OS_UNIX) && !defined(Q_OS_ANDROID)
+// do *not* use other defines than BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_$backend to include
+// the managers, and keep an alphabetical order
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_fakehw
+#include "backends/fakehw/fakemanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_fstab
+#include "backends/fstab/fstabmanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_hal
 #include "backends/hal/halmanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_iokit
+#include "backends/iokit/iokitmanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_udev
+#include "backends/udev/udevmanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_udisks2
 #include "backends/udisks2/udisksmanager.h"
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_upower
 #include "backends/upower/upowermanager.h"
-
-#if UDEV_FOUND
-#include "backends/udev/udevmanager.h"
 #endif
-
-#include "backends/fstab/fstabmanager.h"
-
-#elif defined (Q_OS_WIN) && !defined(_WIN32_WCE)
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_win
 #include "backends/win/windevicemanager.h"
 #endif
 
@@ -53,38 +60,38 @@
     qDeleteAll(m_backends);
 }
 
+// do *not* use other defines than BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_$backend to add
+// the managers, and keep an alphabetical order
 void Solid::ManagerBasePrivate::loadBackends()
 {
     QString solidFakeXml(QString::fromLocal8Bit(qgetenv("SOLID_FAKEHW")));
 
     if (!solidFakeXml.isEmpty()) {
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_fakehw
         m_backends << new Solid::Backends::Fake::FakeManager(nullptr, solidFakeXml);
+#endif
     } else {
-#        if defined(Q_OS_MAC)
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_fstab
+        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::Fstab::FstabManager(nullptr);
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_hal
+        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::Hal::HalManager(nullptr);
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_iokit
         m_backends << new Solid::Backends::IOKit::IOKitManager(nullptr);
-
-#        elif defined(Q_OS_FREEBSD)
-        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UPower::UPowerManager(nullptr)
-#               if EXPERIMENTAL_BSDISKS
-                   << new Solid::Backends::UDisks2::Manager(nullptr)
-#               else
-                   << new Solid::Backends::Hal::HalManager(nullptr)
-#               endif
-                   << new Solid::Backends::Fstab::FstabManager(nullptr);
-
-#        elif defined(Q_OS_WIN) && !defined(_WIN32_WCE)
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_udev
+        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UDev::UDevManager(nullptr);
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_udisks2
+        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UDisks2::Manager(nullptr);
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_upower
+        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UPower::UPowerManager(nullptr);
+#endif
+#ifdef BUILD_DEVICE_BACKEND_win
         m_backends << new Solid::Backends::Win::WinDeviceManager(nullptr);
-#        elif defined(Q_OS_UNIX) && !defined(Q_OS_LINUX)
-        m_backends << new Solid::Backends::Hal::HalManager(nullptr);
-
-#        elif defined(Q_OS_LINUX) && !defined(Q_OS_ANDROID)
-#               if UDEV_FOUND
-            m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UDev::UDevManager(nullptr);
-            m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UDisks2::Manager(nullptr);
-#               endif
-            m_backends << new Solid::Backends::UPower::UPowerManager(nullptr)
-                       << new Solid::Backends::Fstab::FstabManager(nullptr);
-#        endif
+#endif
     }
 }