diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 
 include(FeatureSummary)
 
+option(BUILD_PLASMATE "Build Plasmate" OFF)
+add_feature_info(Plasmate ${BUILD_PLASMATE} "IDE for Plasma extensions (needs maintainance)")
+
 ################# set KDE specific information #################
 
 find_package(ECM 1.8.0 REQUIRED NO_MODULE)
@@ -26,6 +29,7 @@
 
 find_package(Qt5 REQUIRED NO_MODULE COMPONENTS Core DBus Gui Qml Quick Svg Widgets Xml)
 
+if(BUILD_PLASMATE)
 find_package(Qt5WebKit ${QT_MIN_VERSION} CONFIG)
 set_package_properties(Qt5WebKit PROPERTIES
          PURPOSE "Required for plasmate"
@@ -36,6 +40,7 @@
          PURPOSE "Required for plasmate"
          TYPE OPTIONAL
          )
+endif()
 
 find_package(Qt5Test ${QT_MIN_VERSION} CONFIG QUIET)
 set_package_properties(Qt5Test PROPERTIES
@@ -47,11 +52,13 @@
     set(BUILD_TESTING OFF CACHE BOOL "Build the testing tree.")
 endif()
 
+if(BUILD_PLASMATE)
 find_package(KDevPlatform 4.90.90)
 set_package_properties(KDevPlatform PROPERTIES
     PURPOSE "Required for plasmate"
     TYPE OPTIONAL
 )
+endif()
 
 find_package(KF5Kirigami2 5.22)
 set_package_properties(KF5Kirigami2 PROPERTIES
@@ -98,7 +105,8 @@
 add_subdirectory(lookandfeelexplorer)
 #add_subdirectory(remote-widgets-browser)
 #add_subdirectory(wallpaperviewer)
-if (KDevPlatform_FOUND AND Qt5WebKit_FOUND AND Qt5WebKitWidgets_FOUND)
+
+if(BUILD_PLASMATE AND KDevPlatform_FOUND AND Qt5WebKit_FOUND AND Qt5WebKitWidgets_FOUND)
     add_subdirectory(plasmate)
 endif()