diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
     XmlGui
 )
 
+option(COMPILE_QML "Precompile QML code" ON)
+
 # enable QML debugging for debug builds
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} -DQT_QML_DEBUG")
 
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
     ktouchcontext.cpp
 )
 
-if (Qt5QuickCompiler_FOUND)
+if (Qt5QuickCompiler_FOUND AND COMPILE_QML)
     qtquick_compiler_add_resources(ktouch_qml_SRCS qml/qml.qrc)
 else ()
     qt5_add_resources(ktouch_qml_SRCS qml/qml.qrc)