diff --git a/src/libkdepim/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libkdepim/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/libkdepim/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libkdepim/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@
     ${PRI_FILENAME}
     DESTINATION ${ECM_MKSPECS_INSTALL_DIR})
 
-add_subdirectory(designer)
+if(BUILD_DESIGNERPLUGIN)
+    add_subdirectory(designer)
+endif()
 ########### next target ###############
 
 
diff --git a/src/libkdepimakonadi/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libkdepimakonadi/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/libkdepimakonadi/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libkdepimakonadi/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@
 endif()
 
 
-add_subdirectory(designer)
+if(BUILD_DESIGNERPLUGIN)
+    add_subdirectory(designer)
+endif()
 
 set(kdepim_addressline_LIB_SRCS
     addressline/completionorder/completionordereditor.cpp