diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dd45a4fe6..493541ee5 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -151,7 +151,14 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 if (BUILD_DESKTOP)
-    find_package(Qt5 ${QT_REQUIRED_VERSION} CONFIG REQUIRED COMPONENTS DBus)
+    find_package(Qt5DBus)
+    set_okular_optional_package_properties(Qt5DBus PROPERTIES
+        PURPOSE "Required for interprocess communication, external open in same instance and various presentation related bits.")
+    if(TARGET Qt5::DBus)
+        set(HAVE_DBUS 1)
+    else()
+        set(HAVE_DBUS 0)
+    endif()
     find_package(KF5 ${KF5_REQUIRED_VERSION} REQUIRED COMPONENTS Parts Crash IconThemes TextWidgets)
 
     find_package(KF5Purpose)
@@ -595,6 +602,9 @@ target_link_libraries(okularpart okularcore
     KF5::WindowSystem
     KF5::TextWidgets
 )
+if (TARGET Qt5::DBus)
+    target_link_libraries(okularpart Qt5::DBus)
+endif()
 if (Phonon4Qt5_FOUND)
    target_link_libraries(okularpart Phonon::phonon4qt5)
 endif()
diff --git a/autotests/mainshelltest.cpp b/autotests/mainshelltest.cpp
index 35912305a..efbececbf 100644
--- a/autotests/mainshelltest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/mainshelltest.cpp
@@ -7,12 +7,16 @@
 // clazy:excludeall=qstring-allocations
 
 #include <QTest>
+#include <config-okular.h>
 
 #include <KConfigGroup>
 #include <KLineEdit>
 #include <KRecentFilesAction>
+
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusConnection>
 #include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QPrintDialog>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 #include <QTabBar>
@@ -141,10 +145,12 @@ void MainShellTest::initTestCase()
     Okular::Settings::instance(QStringLiteral("mainshelltest"));
 
     // Register in bus as okular
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     QDBusConnectionInterface *bus = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().interface();
     const QString myPid = QString::number(getpid());
     const QString serviceName = QStringLiteral("org.kde.okular-") + myPid;
     QVERIFY(bus->registerService(serviceName) == QDBusConnectionInterface::ServiceRegistered);
+#endif
 
     // Tell the presentationWidget and queryClose to not be annoying
     KSharedConfigPtr c = KSharedConfig::openConfig();
@@ -215,11 +221,14 @@ void MainShellTest::testShell_data()
     QTest::newRow("two files no tabs") << file1AndToc << QString() << false << QString() << 0u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("two files with tabs") << file1AndToc << QString() << true << QString() << 0u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("two files sequence no tabs") << file1 << QString() << false << tocReload << 0u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     QTest::newRow("two files sequence with tabs") << file1 << QString() << true << tocReload << 0u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
     QTest::newRow("open file page number") << contentsEpub << optionsPage2 << false << QString() << 1u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("open file page number and presentation") << contentsEpub << optionsPage2Presentation << false << QString() << 1u << true << false << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("open file find") << file1 << optionsFind << false << QString() << 0u << false << false << false << 0u << false << false << QStringLiteral("si:next-testing parameters!");
     QTest::newRow("open file print") << file1 << optionsPrint << false << QString() << 0u << false << true << false << 0u << false << false << QString();
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     QTest::newRow("open two files unique") << file1 << optionsUnique << false << tocReload << 0u << false << false << true << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("open two files unique tabs") << file1 << optionsUnique << true << tocReload << 0u << false << false << true << 0u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("page number attach tabs") << file1 << QString() << true << contentsEpub[0] << 0u << false << false << false << 2u << false << false << QString();
@@ -231,6 +240,7 @@ void MainShellTest::testShell_data()
     QTest::newRow("page number attach unique tabs") << file1 << optionsUnique << true << contentsEpub[0] << 0u << false << false << true << 3u << false << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("presentation attach unique tabs") << file1 << optionsUnique << true << contentsEpub[0] << 0u << false << false << true << 2u << true << false << QString();
     QTest::newRow("print attach unique tabs") << file1 << optionsUnique << true << contentsEpub[0] << 0u << false << false << true << 2u << false << true << QString();
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 }
 
 void MainShellTest::testShell()
@@ -473,8 +483,10 @@ void MainShellTest::test2FilesError_data()
 
     QTest::newRow("startInPresentation") << ShellUtils::serializeOptions(true, false, false, false, false, QString(), QString(), QString());
     QTest::newRow("showPrintDialog") << ShellUtils::serializeOptions(false, true, false, false, false, QString(), QString(), QString());
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     QTest::newRow("unique") << ShellUtils::serializeOptions(false, false, false, true, false, QString(), QString(), QString());
     QTest::newRow("pageNumber") << ShellUtils::serializeOptions(false, false, false, false, false, QStringLiteral("3"), QString(), QString());
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
     QTest::newRow("find") << ShellUtils::serializeOptions(false, false, false, false, false, QString(), QStringLiteral("silly"), QString());
 }
 
diff --git a/config-okular.h.cmake b/config-okular.h.cmake
index d6e0f1f08..4f455562e 100644
--- a/config-okular.h.cmake
+++ b/config-okular.h.cmake
@@ -21,3 +21,6 @@
 
 /* Defines wheter we are building with Phonon support */
 #cmakedefine01 HAVE_PHONON
+
+/* Defines whether we are building with dbus enabled */
+#cmakedefine01 HAVE_DBUS
diff --git a/part/part.cpp b/part/part.cpp
index a748cedd5..d0839321e 100644
--- a/part/part.cpp
+++ b/part/part.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@
 // qt/kde includes
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QContextMenuEvent>
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusConnection>
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDialog>
 #include <QDialogButtonBox>
 #include <QFile>
@@ -327,6 +329,7 @@ Part::Part(QWidget *parentWidget, QObject *parent, const QVariantList &args)
 
     setupConfigSkeleton(args, componentName());
 
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     numberOfParts++;
     if (numberOfParts == 1) {
         m_registerDbusName = QStringLiteral("/okular");
@@ -334,6 +337,7 @@ Part::Part(QWidget *parentWidget, QObject *parent, const QVariantList &args)
         m_registerDbusName = QStringLiteral("/okular%1").arg(numberOfParts);
     }
     QDBusConnection::sessionBus().registerObject(m_registerDbusName, this, QDBusConnection::ExportScriptableSlots);
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 
     // connect the started signal to tell the job the mimetypes we like,
     // and get some more information from it
@@ -990,7 +994,9 @@ void Part::setupActions()
 
 Part::~Part()
 {
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     QDBusConnection::sessionBus().unregisterObject(m_registerDbusName);
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 
     m_document->removeObserver(this);
 
diff --git a/part/part.h b/part/part.h
index ef0848163..8eb6b48f4 100644
--- a/part/part.h
+++ b/part/part.h
@@ -15,7 +15,13 @@
 #ifndef _PART_H_
 #define _PART_H_
 
+#include <config-okular.h>
+
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusAbstractAdaptor> // for Q_NOREPLY
+#else                           // HAVE_DBUS
+#define Q_NOREPLY
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QIcon>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QPointer>
@@ -35,8 +41,6 @@
 
 #include "okularpart_export.h"
 
-#include <config-okular.h>
-
 class QAction;
 class QWidget;
 class QPrinter;
diff --git a/part/presentationwidget.cpp b/part/presentationwidget.cpp
index bd5192c53..40a220d93 100644
--- a/part/presentationwidget.cpp
+++ b/part/presentationwidget.cpp
@@ -5,11 +5,14 @@
 */
 
 #include "presentationwidget.h"
+#include "config-okular.h"
 
 // qt/kde includes
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusConnection>
 #include <QDBusMessage>
 #include <QDBusReply>
+#endif
 #include <QLoggingCategory>
 
 #include <KActionCollection>
@@ -39,7 +42,9 @@
 #include <QValidator>
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_LINUX
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusUnixFileDescriptor>
+#endif
 #include <unistd.h> // For ::close() for sleep inhibition
 #endif
 
@@ -1697,6 +1702,7 @@ void PresentationWidget::setScreen(const QScreen *newScreen)
 
 void PresentationWidget::inhibitPowerManagement()
 {
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #ifdef Q_OS_LINUX
     QString reason = i18nc("Reason for inhibiting the screensaver activation, when the presentation mode is active", "Giving a presentation");
 
@@ -1730,11 +1736,13 @@ void PresentationWidget::inhibitPowerManagement()
             qCWarning(OkularUiDebug) << "Unable to inhibit sleep" << reply.error();
         }
     }
-#endif
+#endif // Q_OS_LINUX
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 }
 
 void PresentationWidget::allowPowerManagement()
 {
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #ifdef Q_OS_LINUX
     if (m_sleepInhibitFd != -1) {
         ::close(m_sleepInhibitFd);
@@ -1750,7 +1758,8 @@ void PresentationWidget::allowPowerManagement()
 
         m_screenInhibitCookie = 0;
     }
-#endif
+#endif // Q_OS_LINUX
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 }
 
 void PresentationWidget::showTopBar(bool show)
diff --git a/shell/CMakeLists.txt b/shell/CMakeLists.txt
index 597f0b74c..f550514dc 100644
--- a/shell/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/shell/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ ecm_add_app_icon(okular_SRCS ICONS ${ICONS_SRCS})
 
 add_executable(okular ${okular_SRCS})
 
-target_link_libraries(okular KF5::I18n KF5::Parts KF5::WindowSystem KF5::Crash KF5::IconThemes Qt5::DBus)
+target_link_libraries(okular KF5::I18n KF5::Parts KF5::WindowSystem KF5::Crash KF5::IconThemes)
+if (TARGET Qt5::DBus)
+    target_link_libraries(okular Qt5::DBus)
+endif()
 if(TARGET KF5::Activities)
     target_compile_definitions(okular PUBLIC -DWITH_KACTIVITIES=1)
 
diff --git a/shell/main.cpp b/shell/main.cpp
index 35f3aea65..dd08abeaf 100644
--- a/shell/main.cpp
+++ b/shell/main.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QCommandLineOption>
 #include <QCommandLineParser>
-#include <QDBusInterface>
 #include <QTextStream>
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
diff --git a/shell/okular_main.cpp b/shell/okular_main.cpp
index cfb74c114..393135505 100644
--- a/shell/okular_main.cpp
+++ b/shell/okular_main.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 #include <KWindowSystem>
 #include <QApplication>
-#include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
-#include <QDBusInterface>
 #include <QMimeData>
 #include <QTemporaryFile>
 #include <QTextStream>
@@ -26,6 +24,10 @@
 #if HAVE_X11
 #include <QX11Info>
 #endif
+#if HAVE_DBUS
+#include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
+#include <QDBusInterface>
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ static QString startupId()
 
 static bool attachUniqueInstance(const QStringList &paths, const QString &serializedOptions)
 {
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     if (!ShellUtils::unique(serializedOptions) || paths.count() != 1) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -69,11 +72,15 @@ static bool attachUniqueInstance(const QStringList &paths, const QString &serial
     }
 
     return true;
+#else  // HAVE_DBUS
+    return false;
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 }
 
 // Ask an existing non-unique instance to open new tabs
 static bool attachExistingInstance(const QStringList &paths, const QString &serializedOptions)
 {
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     if (paths.count() < 1) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -162,6 +169,9 @@ static bool attachExistingInstance(const QStringList &paths, const QString &seri
     bestService->call(QStringLiteral("tryRaise"), startupId());
 
     return true;
+#else  // HAVE_DBUS
+    return false;
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 }
 
 namespace Okular
diff --git a/shell/shell.cpp b/shell/shell.cpp
index 54c10bd44..b1728484f 100644
--- a/shell/shell.cpp
+++ b/shell/shell.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@
 #include <KWindowSystem>
 #include <KXMLGUIFactory>
 #include <QApplication>
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusConnection>
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDockWidget>
 #include <QDragMoveEvent>
 #include <QFileDialog>
@@ -239,6 +241,7 @@ Shell::Shell(const QString &serializedOptions)
         readSettings();
 
         m_unique = ShellUtils::unique(serializedOptions);
+#if HAVE_DBUS
         if (m_unique) {
             m_unique = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().registerService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.okular"));
             if (!m_unique) {
@@ -260,6 +263,7 @@ Shell::Shell(const QString &serializedOptions)
         }
 
         QDBusConnection::sessionBus().registerObject(QStringLiteral("/okularshell"), this, QDBusConnection::ExportScriptableSlots);
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 
         // Make sure that the welcome scren is visible on startup.
         showWelcomeScreen();
@@ -335,9 +339,11 @@ Shell::~Shell()
         }
         m_tabs.clear();
     }
+#if HAVE_DBUS
     if (m_unique) {
         QDBusConnection::sessionBus().unregisterService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.okular"));
     }
+#endif // HAVE_DBUS
 
     delete m_tabWidget;
 }
diff --git a/shell/shell.h b/shell/shell.h
index a062214b7..e285f1bfc 100644
--- a/shell/shell.h
+++ b/shell/shell.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #ifndef _OKULAR_SHELL_H_
 #define _OKULAR_SHELL_H_
 
+#include "config-okular.h"
 #include <QAction>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QMimeDatabase>
@@ -19,7 +20,11 @@
 #include <kparts/mainwindow.h>
 #include <kparts/readwritepart.h>
 
+#if HAVE_DBUS
 #include <QDBusAbstractAdaptor> // for Q_NOREPLY
+#else
+#define Q_NOREPLY
+#endif
 #include <QStackedWidget>
 
 #include "welcomescreen.h"