diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 883d9bfc..90b5e991 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 20)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 
 option(INSTALL_SYSTEMD_SERVICE "Install a systemd service file to start the session" OFF)
+option(PLASMA_MOBILE_LOCAL_KAUTH_INSTALL "Install KAuth helpers and policies into CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX for local rootless development" OFF)
 
 find_package(ECM ${KF6_MIN_VERSION} REQUIRED NO_MODULE)
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${ECM_MODULE_PATH})
@@ -124,6 +125,13 @@ set_package_properties(KF6::AuthCore PROPERTIES
     PURPOSE "Allows Plasma Mobile to configure Waydroid"
 )
 
+if(PLASMA_MOBILE_LOCAL_KAUTH_INSTALL)
+    set(KAUTH_HELPER_INSTALL_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBEXECDIR}/kf6/kauth")
+    set(KAUTH_HELPER_INSTALL_ABSOLUTE_DIR "${KAUTH_HELPER_INSTALL_DIR}")
+    set(KAUTH_POLICY_FILES_INSTALL_DIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_DATADIR}/polkit-1/actions")
+    set(INSTALL_BROKEN_KAUTH_POLICY_FILES ON)
+endif()
+
 include(CheckIncludeFiles)
 
 ecm_find_qmlmodule(org.kde.pipewire 0.1)
diff --git a/components/waydroidintegrationplugin/kauth/CMakeLists.txt b/components/waydroidintegrationplugin/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
index 15443caf..92214c85 100644
--- a/components/waydroidintegrationplugin/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/components/waydroidintegrationplugin/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ target_link_libraries(waydroidhelper
 
 install(TARGETS waydroidhelper DESTINATION ${KAUTH_HELPER_INSTALL_DIR})
 
-find_package(KF6Auth NO_MODULE)
+if(NOT TARGET KF6::AuthCore)
+    find_package(KF6Auth NO_MODULE REQUIRED)
+endif()
 
 kauth_install_helper_files(waydroidhelper org.kde.plasma.mobileshell.waydroidhelper root)
 kauth_install_actions(org.kde.plasma.mobileshell.waydroidhelper waydroidhelper.actions)
diff --git a/quicksettings/flashlight/kauth/CMakeLists.txt b/quicksettings/flashlight/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
index ffc24003..a16020c8 100644
--- a/quicksettings/flashlight/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/quicksettings/flashlight/kauth/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ target_link_libraries(flashlighthelper
 
 install(TARGETS flashlighthelper DESTINATION ${KAUTH_HELPER_INSTALL_DIR})
 
-find_package(KF6Auth NO_MODULE)
+if(NOT TARGET KF6::AuthCore)
+    find_package(KF6Auth NO_MODULE REQUIRED)
+endif()
 
 kauth_install_helper_files(flashlighthelper org.kde.plasma.mobileshell.flashlighthelper root)
 kauth_install_actions(org.kde.plasma.mobileshell.flashlighthelper flashlighthelper.actions)