diff --git a/CMakeModules/Translations.cmake b/CMakeModules/Translations.cmake
index 9695829fa..5cc1f1367 100644
--- a/CMakeModules/Translations.cmake
+++ b/CMakeModules/Translations.cmake
@@ -40,4 +40,7 @@ if (${do_translate})
     endforeach()
 
     file(APPEND ${translation_res} "</qresource>\n</RCC>")
+
+    # set this so config.h can detect it
+    set(HAVE_QRC_TRANSLATIONS TRUE)
 endif() # of do translate
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/GUI/QtLauncher.cxx b/src/GUI/QtLauncher.cxx
index 5973ad5bf..b21ee43e6 100644
--- a/src/GUI/QtLauncher.cxx
+++ b/src/GUI/QtLauncher.cxx
@@ -207,7 +207,9 @@ private:
 static void initQtResources()
 {
     Q_INIT_RESOURCE(resources);
+#if defined(HAVE_QRC_TRANSLATIONS)
     Q_INIT_RESOURCE(translations);
+#endif
 }
 
 static void simgearMessageOutput(QtMsgType type, const QMessageLogContext &context, const QString &msg)
diff --git a/src/Include/config_cmake.h.in b/src/Include/config_cmake.h.in
index dae4eafed..0656c8153 100644
--- a/src/Include/config_cmake.h.in
+++ b/src/Include/config_cmake.h.in
@@ -65,3 +65,6 @@
 #define FG_BUILD_TYPE "@FG_BUILD_TYPE@"
 
 #define HAVE_PUI
+
+#cmakedefine HAVE_QRC_TRANSLATIONS
+