diff --git a/src/qml/CMakeLists.txt b/src/qml/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/qml/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/qml/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,3 +11,15 @@
 
 install(TARGETS itemmodelsplugin DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_QMLDIR}/org/kde/kitemmodels)
 install(FILES qmldir DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_QMLDIR}/org/kde/kitemmodels)
+
+# Faux install into the build dir for unit tests
+
+if(BUILD_TESTING)
+    add_custom_target(copy ALL DEPENDS itemmodelsplugin)
+    add_custom_command(TARGET copy POST_BUILD
+                        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E
+                            copy ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/qmldir ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org/kde/kitemmodels/qmldir)
+    add_custom_command(TARGET copy POST_BUILD
+                        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E
+                        copy $<TARGET_FILE:itemmodelsplugin> ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org/kde/kitemmodels)
+endif()