diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 75458a7..c10f03d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -45,20 +45,34 @@ tools:
 	cp -a data/tools/_lib $(CONFIG_DIR)/tools/
 
 kde:
-	cmake -S kde -B kde/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(PREFIX)
-	cmake --build kde/build -j$(JOBS)
+	@rm -f kde/build/.ollie-built
+	@if cmake -S kde -B kde/build -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(PREFIX); then \
+		if cmake --build kde/build -j$(JOBS); then \
+			touch kde/build/.ollie-built; \
+		else \
+			echo "KDE build failed" >&2; \
+			exit 1; \
+		fi; \
+	else \
+		rm -f kde/build/.ollie-built; \
+		echo "KDE dependencies not available; skipping KDE build"; \
+	fi
 
 kde-kf5:
 	cmake -S kde -B kde/build-kf5 -DOLLIE_KF5=ON -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(PREFIX)
 	cmake --build kde/build-kf5 -j$(JOBS)
 
 install: build test install-data
-	cmake --install kde/build
-	install -Dm644 kde/gui/org.ollie.gui.desktop $(PREFIX)/share/applications/org.ollie.gui.desktop
-	install -Dm644 kde/gui/ollie.svg $(PREFIX)/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/ollie.svg
-	install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-actions.desktop $(PREFIX)/share/kio/servicemenus/ollie-actions.desktop
-	install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-ask $(BINDIR)/ollie-ask
-	install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-session-here $(BINDIR)/ollie-session-here
+	@if test -f kde/build/.ollie-built; then \
+		cmake --install kde/build; \
+		install -Dm644 kde/gui/org.ollie.gui.desktop $(PREFIX)/share/applications/org.ollie.gui.desktop; \
+		install -Dm644 kde/gui/ollie.svg $(PREFIX)/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/ollie.svg; \
+		install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-actions.desktop $(PREFIX)/share/kio/servicemenus/ollie-actions.desktop; \
+		install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-ask $(BINDIR)/ollie-ask; \
+		install -Dm755 kde/dolphin/ollie-session-here $(BINDIR)/ollie-session-here; \
+	else \
+		echo "KDE build not available; skipping KDE install"; \
+	fi
 
 install-kf5: build-kf5 test install-data
 	cmake --install kde/build-kf5