diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 64df939..9c24415 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,80 +1,86 @@
 
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.0)
 
 set(KF5_VERSION "5.37.0") # handled by release scripts
 project(Sonnet VERSION ${KF5_VERSION})
 
 include(FeatureSummary)
 find_package(ECM 5.36.0  NO_MODULE)
 set_package_properties(ECM PROPERTIES TYPE REQUIRED DESCRIPTION "Extra CMake Modules." URL "https://projects.kde.org/projects/kdesupport/extra-cmake-modules")
 feature_summary(WHAT REQUIRED_PACKAGES_NOT_FOUND FATAL_ON_MISSING_REQUIRED_PACKAGES)
 
 
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${ECM_MODULE_PATH} ${ECM_KDE_MODULE_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake )
 
 include(KDEInstallDirs)
 include(KDEFrameworkCompilerSettings NO_POLICY_SCOPE)
 include(KDECMakeSettings)
 
 set(REQUIRED_QT_VERSION 5.6.0)
-find_package(Qt5 ${REQUIRED_QT_VERSION} CONFIG REQUIRED Widgets)
+option(SONNET_USE_WIDGETS "Build components using Qt5Widgets" ON)
+if(SONNET_USE_WIDGETS)
+    find_package(Qt5 ${REQUIRED_QT_VERSION} CONFIG REQUIRED Widgets)
+endif()
+find_package(Qt5 ${REQUIRED_QT_VERSION} CONFIG REQUIRED Core)
 
 
 include(GenerateExportHeader)
 
 include(ECMSetupVersion)
 include(ECMGenerateHeaders)
 
 include(ECMAddQch)
 include(ECMPoQmTools)
 
 ecm_setup_version(PROJECT VARIABLE_PREFIX SONNET
                         VERSION_HEADER "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sonnet_version.h"
                         PACKAGE_VERSION_FILE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KF5SonnetConfigVersion.cmake"
                         SOVERSION 5)
 
 option(BUILD_QCH "Build API documentation in QCH format (for e.g. Qt Assistant, Qt Creator & KDevelop)" OFF)
 add_feature_info(QCH ${BUILD_QCH} "API documentation in QCH format (for e.g. Qt Assistant, Qt Creator & KDevelop)")
 
 if (IS_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/po")
     ecm_install_po_files_as_qm(po)
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(src)
 add_subdirectory(autotests)
 add_subdirectory(data)
-add_subdirectory(examples)
+if(TARGET Qt5::Widgets)
+    add_subdirectory(examples)
+endif()
 
 
 # create a Config.cmake and a ConfigVersion.cmake file and install them
 set(CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR "${KDE_INSTALL_CMAKEPACKAGEDIR}/KF5Sonnet")
 
 if (BUILD_QCH)
     ecm_install_qch_export(
         TARGETS KF5SonnetCore_QCH KF5SonnetUi_QCH
         FILE KF5SonnetQchTargets.cmake
         DESTINATION "${CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR}"
         COMPONENT Devel
     )
     set(PACKAGE_INCLUDE_QCHTARGETS "include(\"\${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/KF5SonnetQchTargets.cmake\")")
 endif()
 
 include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)
 
 configure_package_config_file("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/KF5SonnetConfig.cmake.in" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KF5SonnetConfig.cmake"
                               INSTALL_DESTINATION  ${CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR}
                               )
 
 install(FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KF5SonnetConfig.cmake"
               "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KF5SonnetConfigVersion.cmake"
         DESTINATION "${CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR}"  COMPONENT Devel )
 
 install(EXPORT KF5SonnetTargets DESTINATION "${CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR}" FILE KF5SonnetTargets.cmake NAMESPACE KF5:: )
 
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sonnet_version.h
         DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR_KF5} COMPONENT Devel )
 
 # contains list of debug categories, for kdebugsettings
 install(FILES sonnet.categories DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_CONFDIR})
 
 feature_summary(WHAT ALL FATAL_ON_MISSING_REQUIRED_PACKAGES)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index cf40289..e6e4212 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 add_subdirectory(core)
 add_subdirectory(plugins)
-add_subdirectory(ui)
+if(TARGET Qt5::Widgets)
+    add_subdirectory(ui)
+endif()