diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
     PURPOSE "Needed for emergency unlock in case that the greeter is broken. In case your distribution does not provide loginctl please contact plasma-devel@kde.org to discuss alternatives."
     )
 
+option(PAM_REQUIRED "Require building with PAM" ON)
 include(ConfigureChecks.cmake)
 
 configure_file(config-workspace.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-workspace.h)
diff --git a/ConfigureChecks.cmake b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
--- a/ConfigureChecks.cmake
+++ b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
                        TYPE OPTIONAL
                        PURPOSE "Required for screen unlocking and optionally used by the KDM log in manager"
                       )
+if(PAM_REQUIRED)
+set_package_properties(PAM PROPERTIES TYPE REQUIRED)
+endif()
 include(CheckTypeSize)
 include(FindPkgConfig)