diff --git a/plugins/welcomepage/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/welcomepage/CMakeLists.txt
index 49faeee4e0..0b4af856a9 100644
--- a/plugins/welcomepage/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/welcomepage/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,25 +1,30 @@
 add_definitions(-DTRANSLATION_DOMAIN=\"kdevwelcomepage\")
 add_subdirectory(declarative)
 
 set(welcomepage_SRCS
     welcomepageplugin.cpp
     sessionsmodel.cpp
     welcomepageview.cpp
     uihelper.cpp)
 
 qt5_add_resources(welcomepage_SRCS welcomepage.qrc)
 
 kdevplatform_add_plugin(kdevwelcomepage JSON kdevwelcomepage.json SOURCES ${welcomepage_SRCS})
+option(WELCOMEPAGE_ENABLE_QMLJSDEBUGGING "Enable the QML debugging infrastructure for the welcomepage plugin" OFF)
+if (WELCOMEPAGE_ENABLE_QMLJSDEBUGGING)
+    # cf. http://doc.qt.io/qt-5/qtquick-debugging.html#enabling-the-infrastructure
+    target_compile_definitions(kdevwelcomepage PRIVATE QT_QML_DEBUG=1)
+endif()
 target_link_libraries(kdevwelcomepage
     KDev::Interfaces
     KDev::Sublime
     KDev::Shell
     KDev::Project
     Qt5::QuickWidgets
     KF5::Declarative
 )
 # see https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gcc-5/+bug/1568899
 if (UNIX AND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
     message(WARNING "Applying workaround for https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gcc-5/+bug/1568899")
     target_link_libraries(kdevwelcomepage gcc_s gcc)
 endif()