diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 find_package(KF5CoreAddons ${KF5_DEP_VERSION} REQUIRED)
 find_package(KF5Config ${KF5_DEP_VERSION} REQUIRED)
-find_package(KF5DocTools ${KF5_DEP_VERSION} REQUIRED)
+find_package(KF5DocTools ${KF5_DEP_VERSION})
 
 find_package(KF5Completion ${KF5_DEP_VERSION})
 set_package_properties(KF5Completion PROPERTIES TYPE OPTIONAL
@@ -89,10 +89,14 @@
 
 set(CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR "${KDE_INSTALL_CMAKEPACKAGEDIR}/KF5DesignerPlugin")
 
-add_subdirectory(docs)
+if (KF5DocTools_FOUND)
+    add_subdirectory(docs)
+endif()
 if (IS_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/po")
     ecm_install_po_files_as_qm(po)
-    kdoctools_install(po)
+    if (KF5DocTools_FOUND)
+        kdoctools_install(po)
+    endif()
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(src)