diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -63,8 +63,12 @@
 find_package(KSMServerDBusInterface CONFIG REQUIRED)
 find_package(KF5ItemModels CONFIG REQUIRED)
 find_package(KF5Emoticons CONFIG REQUIRED)
-find_package(AppStreamQt 0.10.4 CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
+find_package(AppStreamQt 0.10.4)
+set_package_properties(AppStreamQt PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION "Appstream integration"
+                       TYPE RECOMMENDED
+                       PURPOSE "Needed to allow appstream integration from application menus"
+                      )
 find_package(KF5Baloo)
 set_package_properties(KF5Baloo PROPERTIES DESCRIPTION "File Searching"
                        TYPE RECOMMENDED
@@ -139,10 +143,15 @@
     set(HAVE_BREEZE_DECO FALSE)
 endif()
 
+if(${AppStreamQt_FOUND})
+    set(HAVE_APPSTREAMQT true)
+endif()
+
 include_directories("${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}")
 
 configure_file(config-workspace.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-workspace.h)
 configure_file(config-unix.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-unix.h )
+configure_file(config-appstream.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-appstream.h )
 configure_file(config-X11.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-X11.h)
 configure_file(config-runtime.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-runtime.h)
 
diff --git a/applets/kicker/CMakeLists.txt b/applets/kicker/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/applets/kicker/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/applets/kicker/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -74,7 +74,10 @@
                       KF5::Service
                       KF5::Solid
                       KF5::WindowSystem
-                      AppStreamQt
                       PW::KWorkspace)
 
+if (${HAVE_APPSTREAMQT})
+target_link_libraries(kickerplugin AppStreamQt)
+endif()
+
 install(TARGETS kickerplugin DESTINATION ${QML_INSTALL_DIR}/org/kde/plasma/private/kicker)
diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "menuentryeditor.h"
 
 #include <config-X11.h>
+#include <config-appstream.h>
 
 #include <QProcess>
 #include <QQmlPropertyMap>
@@ -46,7 +47,10 @@
 #include <KStartupInfo>
 
 #include <Plasma/Plasma>
+
+#ifdef HAVE_APPSTREAMQT
 #include <AppStreamQt/pool.h>
+#endif
 
 MenuEntryEditor *AppEntry::m_menuEntryEditor = nullptr;
 
@@ -139,6 +143,7 @@
 
 QVariantList appstreamActions(const KService::Ptr &service)
 {
+#ifdef HAVE_APPSTREAMQT
     static AppStream::Pool pool;
     if (!pool.load()) {
         return {};
@@ -154,6 +159,9 @@
         ret << appstreamAction;
     }
     return ret;
+#else
+    return {};
+#endif
 }
 
 QVariantList AppEntry::actions() const
diff --git a/config-appstream.h.cmake b/config-appstream.h.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config-appstream.h.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#cmakedefine HAVE_APPSTREAMQT 1