diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e52ba841f9..23dd238ee7 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -436,39 +436,9 @@ if(HAVE_WAYLAND)
     set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS
             ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS}
             abstract_backend.cpp
-            backends/fbdev/fb_backend.cpp
-            backends/fbdev/logging.cpp
-            backends/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp
-            backends/fbdev/screens_fb.cpp
-            backends/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
-            backends/wayland/screens_wayland.cpp
-            backends/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
-            backends/x11/screens_x11windowed.cpp
             virtual_terminal.cpp
-            backends/wayland/logging.cpp
-            backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
             wayland_server.cpp
-            backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
-            backends/x11/logging.cpp
        )
-    if(KWIN_HAVE_EGL AND Wayland_Egl_FOUND)
-        set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS} backends/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.cpp)
-    endif()
-    if(HAVE_DRM)
-        set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS
-                ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS}
-                backends/drm/drm_backend.cpp
-                backends/drm/logging.cpp
-                backends/drm/screens_drm.cpp
-                backends/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp
-            )
-    endif()
-    if(HAVE_GBM)
-        set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS
-                ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS}
-                backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
-            )
-    endif()
     if(HAVE_WAYLAND_CURSOR)
         set(kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS
                 ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS}
@@ -565,14 +535,6 @@ set(kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS
     ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT}
 )
 
-set(kwin_WAYLAND_EGL_LIBS
-    Wayland::Egl
-)
-
-if(X11_XCB_FOUND)
-    set(kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS ${kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS} X11::XCB)
-endif()
-
 if(Wayland_Cursor_FOUND)
     set(kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS ${kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS} Wayland::Cursor)
 endif()
@@ -595,9 +557,6 @@ set(kwinLibs
 
 if(HAVE_WAYLAND)
     set(kwinLibs ${kwinLibs} ${kwin_WAYLAND_LIBS})
-    if(KWIN_HAVE_EGL AND Wayland_Egl_FOUND)
-        set(kwinLibs ${kwinLibs} ${kwin_WAYLAND_EGL_LIBS})
-    endif()
 endif()
 
 if(UDEV_FOUND)
@@ -608,14 +567,6 @@ if(HAVE_INPUT)
     set(kwinLibs ${kwinLibs} Libinput::Libinput)
 endif()
 
-if(HAVE_DRM)
-    set(kwinLibs ${kwinLibs} Libdrm::Libdrm)
-endif()
-
-if(HAVE_GBM)
-    set(kwinLibs ${kwinLibs} gbm::gbm)
-endif()
-
 add_library(kwin SHARED ${kwin_KDEINIT_SRCS})
 
 set_target_properties(kwin PROPERTIES
@@ -652,6 +603,8 @@ if(HAVE_WAYLAND)
 
     install(TARGETS kdeinit_kwin_wayland ${INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS} )
     install(TARGETS kwin_wayland         ${INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS} )
+
+    add_subdirectory(backends)
 endif()
 
 ########### install files ###############
diff --git a/abstract_backend.h b/abstract_backend.h
index 5dfc5d8894..04c1478a52 100644
--- a/abstract_backend.h
+++ b/abstract_backend.h
@@ -126,4 +126,6 @@ private:
 
 }
 
+Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE(KWin::AbstractBackend, "org.kde.kwin.AbstractBackend")
+
 #endif
diff --git a/abstract_egl_backend.h b/abstract_egl_backend.h
index 90100b0f35..c266521d3a 100644
--- a/abstract_egl_backend.h
+++ b/abstract_egl_backend.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-class AbstractEglBackend : public OpenGLBackend
+class KWIN_EXPORT AbstractEglBackend : public OpenGLBackend
 {
 public:
     virtual ~AbstractEglBackend();
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ private:
     QList<QByteArray> m_clientExtensions;
 };
 
-class AbstractEglTexture : public SceneOpenGL::TexturePrivate
+class KWIN_EXPORT AbstractEglTexture : public SceneOpenGL::TexturePrivate
 {
 public:
     virtual ~AbstractEglTexture();
diff --git a/backends/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4aeafa97d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+if(HAVE_DRM)
+    add_subdirectory(drm)
+endif()
+add_subdirectory(fbdev)
+add_subdirectory(wayland)
+add_subdirectory(x11)
diff --git a/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1fda8a0f7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+set(DRM_SOURCES
+    drm_backend.cpp
+    logging.cpp
+    scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp
+    screens_drm.cpp
+)
+
+if(HAVE_GBM)
+    set(DRM_SOURCES ${DRM_SOURCES} egl_gbm_backend.cpp)
+endif()
+
+add_library(KWinWaylandDrmBackend MODULE ${DRM_SOURCES})
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend kwin Libdrm::Libdrm)
+
+if(HAVE_GBM)
+    target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend gbm::gbm)
+endif()
+
+install(
+    TARGETS
+        KWinWaylandDrmBackend
+    DESTINATION
+        ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
+)
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm.json b/backends/drm/drm.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..404bba5384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/drm/drm.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "input": false
+}
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_backend.h b/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
index 644b3ed791..814374cab3 100644
--- a/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
+++ b/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ class DrmOutput;
 class KWIN_EXPORT DrmBackend : public AbstractBackend
 {
     Q_OBJECT
+    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::AbstractBackend)
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.AbstractBackend" FILE "drm.json")
 public:
     explicit DrmBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     virtual ~DrmBackend();
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0c1b54ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+set(FBDEV_SOURCES
+    fb_backend.cpp
+    logging.cpp
+    scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp
+    screens_fb.cpp
+)
+
+add_library(KWinWaylandFbdevBackend MODULE ${FBDEV_SOURCES})
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandFbdevBackend kwin)
+
+install(
+    TARGETS
+        KWinWaylandFbdevBackend
+    DESTINATION
+        ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
+)
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h b/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h
index 1a6e39c897..99de9ad32e 100644
--- a/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h
+++ b/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ namespace KWin
 class KWIN_EXPORT FramebufferBackend : public AbstractBackend
 {
     Q_OBJECT
+    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::AbstractBackend)
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.AbstractBackend" FILE "fbdev.json")
 public:
     explicit FramebufferBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     virtual ~FramebufferBackend();
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/fbdev.json b/backends/fbdev/fbdev.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..404bba5384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/fbdev/fbdev.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "input": false
+}
diff --git a/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a1670a34b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+set(WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES
+    logging.cpp
+    scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
+    screens_wayland.cpp
+    wayland_backend.cpp
+)
+if(KWIN_HAVE_EGL AND Wayland_Egl_FOUND)
+    set(WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES ${WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES} egl_wayland_backend.cpp)
+endif()
+
+add_library(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend MODULE ${WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES})
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend kwin KF5::WaylandClient)
+
+if(KWIN_HAVE_EGL AND Wayland_Egl_FOUND)
+    target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend Wayland::Egl)
+endif()
+
+install(
+    TARGETS
+        KWinWaylandWaylandBackend
+    DESTINATION
+        ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
+)
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland.json b/backends/wayland/wayland.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1551bf5de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/wayland/wayland.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "input": true
+}
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h b/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
index fa176d0b62..c0d58d2551 100644
--- a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
+++ b/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ private:
 class KWIN_EXPORT WaylandBackend : public AbstractBackend
 {
     Q_OBJECT
+    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::AbstractBackend)
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.AbstractBackend" FILE "wayland.json")
 public:
     explicit WaylandBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     virtual ~WaylandBackend();
diff --git a/backends/x11/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/x11/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ce72fad1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/x11/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+set(X11BACKEND_SOURCES
+    logging.cpp
+    scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
+    screens_x11windowed.cpp
+    x11windowed_backend.cpp
+)
+
+add_library(KWinWaylandX11Backend MODULE ${X11BACKEND_SOURCES})
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend kwin)
+if(X11_XCB_FOUND)
+    target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend X11::XCB)
+endif()
+
+install(
+    TARGETS
+        KWinWaylandX11Backend
+    DESTINATION
+        ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
+)
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11.json b/backends/x11/x11.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1551bf5de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backends/x11/x11.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+    "input": true
+}
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
index 8690258aaa..96cdbf3d2c 100644
--- a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
@@ -206,9 +206,6 @@ void X11WindowedBackend::handleClientMessage(xcb_client_message_event_t *event)
 
 void X11WindowedBackend::handleButtonPress(xcb_button_press_event_t *event)
 {
-    if (!input()) {
-        return;
-    }
     bool const pressed = (event->response_type & ~0x80) == XCB_BUTTON_PRESS;
     if (event->detail >= XCB_BUTTON_INDEX_4 && event->detail <= 7) {
         // wheel
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
index 6bb1153b4f..3b1b4e9112 100644
--- a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
+++ b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
@@ -37,9 +37,11 @@ namespace KWin
 class KWIN_EXPORT X11WindowedBackend : public AbstractBackend
 {
     Q_OBJECT
+    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::AbstractBackend)
+    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.AbstractBackend" FILE "x11.json")
     Q_PROPERTY(QSize size READ size NOTIFY sizeChanged)
 public:
-    X11WindowedBackend(QObject *parent);
+    X11WindowedBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     virtual ~X11WindowedBackend();
     void init() override;
 
diff --git a/composite.h b/composite.h
index 3daab16034..fc0ddd5288 100644
--- a/composite.h
+++ b/composite.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
     void looseOwnership();
 };
 
-class Compositor : public QObject {
+class KWIN_EXPORT Compositor : public QObject {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
     enum SuspendReason { NoReasonSuspend = 0, UserSuspend = 1<<0, BlockRuleSuspend = 1<<1, ScriptSuspend = 1<<2, AllReasonSuspend = 0xff };
diff --git a/cursor.h b/cursor.h
index df224e4c2e..067afc8ef4 100644
--- a/cursor.h
+++ b/cursor.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ namespace KWin
  * fetch the position and warp pointer to set the position. It uses a timer based mouse polling and
  * can provide X11 cursors through the XCursor library.
  **/
-class Cursor : public QObject
+class KWIN_EXPORT Cursor : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
diff --git a/eglonxbackend.h b/eglonxbackend.h
index 43f807e4ff..e0572c10d8 100644
--- a/eglonxbackend.h
+++ b/eglonxbackend.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace KWin
 /**
  * @brief OpenGL Backend using Egl windowing system over an X overlay window.
  **/
-class EglOnXBackend : public AbstractEglBackend
+class KWIN_EXPORT EglOnXBackend : public AbstractEglBackend
 {
 public:
     EglOnXBackend();
diff --git a/logind.h b/logind.h
index 9a3f4563a8..a14601016f 100644
--- a/logind.h
+++ b/logind.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class QDBusServiceWatcher;
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-class LogindIntegration : public QObject
+class KWIN_EXPORT LogindIntegration : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
index 5580e251b6..602227c758 100644
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -21,20 +21,17 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "workspace.h"
 #include <config-kwin.h>
 // kwin
-#include "backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h"
-#if HAVE_DRM
-#include "backends/drm/drm_backend.h"
-#endif
-#include "backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h"
+#include "abstract_backend.h"
 #include "wayland_server.h"
 #include "xcbutils.h"
-#include "backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h"
 
 // KWayland
 #include <KWayland/Server/display.h>
 #include <KWayland/Server/seat_interface.h>
 // KDE
 #include <KLocalizedString>
+#include <KPluginLoader>
+#include <KPluginMetaData>
 // Qt
 #include <qplatformdefs.h>
 #include <QCommandLineParser>
@@ -98,45 +95,15 @@ void ApplicationWayland::performStartup()
 
 void ApplicationWayland::createBackend()
 {
-    AbstractBackend *backend = nullptr;
-    if (m_windowed) {
-        if (!m_waylandDisplay.isEmpty()) {
-            Wayland::WaylandBackend *b = new Wayland::WaylandBackend(this);
-            b->setDeviceIdentifier(m_waylandDisplay);
-            backend = b;
+    AbstractBackend *backend = waylandServer()->backend();
+    connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::screensQueried, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScreens);
+    connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::initFailed, this,
+        [] () {
+            std::cerr <<  "FATAL ERROR: backend failed to initialize, exiting now" << std::endl;
+            ::exit(1);
         }
-        if (!backend && !m_x11Display.isEmpty()) {
-            KWin::X11WindowedBackend *x11Backend = new KWin::X11WindowedBackend(this);
-            x11Backend->setDeviceIdentifier(m_x11Display);
-            backend = x11Backend;
-        }
-    }
-#if HAVE_DRM
-    if (m_drm) {
-        DrmBackend *b = new DrmBackend(this);
-        backend = b;
-    }
-#endif
-    if (!m_framebuffer.isEmpty()) {
-        FramebufferBackend *b = new FramebufferBackend(this);
-        b->setDeviceIdentifier(m_framebuffer.toUtf8());
-        backend = b;
-    }
-
-    if (backend) {
-        connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::screensQueried, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScreens);
-        connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::initFailed, this,
-            [] () {
-                std::cerr <<  "FATAL ERROR: backend failed to initialize, exiting now" << std::endl;
-                ::exit(1);
-            }
-        );
-        backend->setInitialWindowSize(m_backendSize);
-        backend->init();
-    } else {
-        std::cerr <<  "FATAL ERROR: could not create a backend, exiting now" << std::endl;
-        ::exit(1);
-    }
+    );
+    backend->init();
 }
 
 void ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScreens()
@@ -464,6 +431,9 @@ KWIN_EXPORT int kdemain(int argc, char * argv[])
     KWin::Application::setUseLibinput(parser.isSet(libinputOption));
 #endif
 
+    QString pluginName;
+    QSize initialWindowSize;
+    QByteArray deviceIdentifier;
     if (parser.isSet(windowedOption) && parser.isSet(framebufferOption)) {
         std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR Cannot have both --windowed and --framebuffer" << std::endl;
         return 1;
@@ -473,10 +443,11 @@ KWIN_EXPORT int kdemain(int argc, char * argv[])
         std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR Cannot have both --windowed/--framebuffer and --drm" << std::endl;
         return 1;
     }
-    a.setDrm(parser.isSet(drmOption));
+    if (parser.isSet(drmOption)) {
+        pluginName = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandDrmBackend");
+    }
 #endif
 
-    a.setWindowed(parser.isSet(windowedOption));
     if (parser.isSet(windowedOption)) {
         bool ok = false;
         const int width = parser.value(widthOption).toInt(&ok);
@@ -489,20 +460,54 @@ KWIN_EXPORT int kdemain(int argc, char * argv[])
             std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for height" << std::endl;
             return 1;
         }
-        a.setBackendSize(QSize(width, height));
+        initialWindowSize = QSize(width, height);
         if (parser.isSet(x11DisplayOption)) {
-            a.setX11Display(parser.value(x11DisplayOption).toUtf8());
+            deviceIdentifier = parser.value(x11DisplayOption).toUtf8();
         } else if (!parser.isSet(waylandDisplayOption)) {
-            a.setX11Display(qgetenv("DISPLAY"));
+            deviceIdentifier = qgetenv("DISPLAY");
         }
-        if (parser.isSet(waylandDisplayOption)) {
-            a.setWaylandDisplay(parser.value(waylandDisplayOption).toUtf8());
-        } else if (!parser.isSet(x11DisplayOption)) {
-            a.setWaylandDisplay(qgetenv("WAYLAND_DISPLAY"));
+        if (!deviceIdentifier.isEmpty()) {
+            pluginName = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandX11Backend");
+        } else {
+            if (parser.isSet(waylandDisplayOption)) {
+                deviceIdentifier = parser.value(waylandDisplayOption).toUtf8();
+            } else if (!parser.isSet(x11DisplayOption)) {
+                deviceIdentifier = qgetenv("WAYLAND_DISPLAY");
+            }
+            if (!deviceIdentifier.isEmpty()) {
+                pluginName = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandWaylandBackend");
+            }
         }
     }
     if (parser.isSet(framebufferOption)) {
-        a.setFramebuffer(parser.value(framebufferDeviceOption));
+        pluginName = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandFbdevBackend");
+        deviceIdentifier = parser.value(framebufferDeviceOption).toUtf8();
+    }
+
+    const auto pluginCandidates = KPluginLoader::findPlugins(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends"),
+        [&pluginName] (const KPluginMetaData &plugin) {
+            return plugin.pluginId() == pluginName;
+        }
+    );
+    if (pluginCandidates.isEmpty()) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not find a backend" << std::endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    for (const auto &candidate: pluginCandidates) {
+        if (qobject_cast<KWin::AbstractBackend*>(candidate.instantiate())) {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    if (!server->backend()) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not instantiate a backend" << std::endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    server->backend()->setParent(server);
+    if (!deviceIdentifier.isEmpty()) {
+        server->backend()->setDeviceIdentifier(deviceIdentifier);
+    }
+    if (initialWindowSize.isValid()) {
+        server->backend()->setInitialWindowSize(initialWindowSize);
     }
 
     a.setStartXwayland(parser.isSet(xwaylandOption));
diff --git a/main_wayland.h b/main_wayland.h
index b8d93178d6..9189f92565 100644
--- a/main_wayland.h
+++ b/main_wayland.h
@@ -34,24 +34,6 @@ public:
     void setStartXwayland(bool start) {
         m_startXWayland = start;
     }
-    void setBackendSize(const QSize &size) {
-        m_backendSize = size;
-    }
-    void setWindowed(bool set) {
-        m_windowed = set;
-    }
-    void setX11Display(const QByteArray &display) {
-        m_x11Display = display;
-    }
-    void setWaylandDisplay(const QByteArray &display) {
-        m_waylandDisplay = display;
-    }
-    void setFramebuffer(const QString &fbdev) {
-        m_framebuffer = fbdev;
-    }
-    void setDrm(bool set) {
-        m_drm = set;
-    }
     void setApplicationsToStart(const QStringList &applications) {
         m_applicationsToStart = applications;
     }
@@ -67,12 +49,6 @@ private:
 
     bool m_startXWayland = false;
     int m_xcbConnectionFd = -1;
-    QSize m_backendSize;
-    bool m_windowed = false;
-    QByteArray m_x11Display;
-    QByteArray m_waylandDisplay;
-    QString m_framebuffer;
-    bool m_drm = false;
     QStringList m_applicationsToStart;
 };
 
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
index 23967cf829..07c5193e3b 100644
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ enum HiddenPreviews {
 
 class Settings;
 
-class Options : public QObject
+class KWIN_EXPORT Options : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_ENUMS(FocusPolicy)
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ private:
     MouseCommand wheelToMouseCommand(MouseWheelCommand com, int delta) const;
 };
 
-extern Options* options;
+extern KWIN_EXPORT Options* options;
 
 } // namespace
 
diff --git a/scene_opengl.h b/scene_opengl.h
index 06d23485b5..44a1e8932a 100644
--- a/scene_opengl.h
+++ b/scene_opengl.h
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ private:
  *
  * @author Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
  **/
-class OpenGLBackend
+class KWIN_EXPORT OpenGLBackend
 {
 public:
     OpenGLBackend();
diff --git a/scene_qpainter.h b/scene_qpainter.h
index 23b579ee86..a9c97a2ec9 100644
--- a/scene_qpainter.h
+++ b/scene_qpainter.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace Xcb {
     class Shm;
 }
 
-class QPainterBackend
+class KWIN_EXPORT QPainterBackend
 {
 public:
     virtual ~QPainterBackend();
diff --git a/screens.h b/screens.h
index 0d8369e337..cc54cdcec8 100644
--- a/screens.h
+++ b/screens.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace KWin
 {
 class Client;
 
-class Screens : public QObject
+class KWIN_EXPORT Screens : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_PROPERTY(int count READ count WRITE setCount NOTIFY countChanged)
diff --git a/udev.h b/udev.h
index e6bc80307c..a88fb25121 100644
--- a/udev.h
+++ b/udev.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #ifndef KWIN_UDEV_H
 #define KWIN_UDEV_H
 #include <memory>
+#include <kwin_export.h>
 
 struct udev;
 struct udev_device;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ namespace KWin
 {
 class Udev;
 
-class UdevDevice
+class KWIN_EXPORT UdevDevice
 {
 public:
     UdevDevice(udev_device *device);
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ private:
     udev_device *m_device;
 };
 
-class UdevMonitor
+class KWIN_EXPORT UdevMonitor
 {
 public:
     explicit UdevMonitor(Udev *udev);
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ private:
     udev_monitor *m_monitor;
 };
 
-class Udev
+class KWIN_EXPORT Udev
 {
 public:
     Udev();
diff --git a/virtual_terminal.h b/virtual_terminal.h
index 84bd80ff6c..8b40beeb8f 100644
--- a/virtual_terminal.h
+++ b/virtual_terminal.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class QSocketNotifier;
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-class VirtualTerminal : public QObject
+class KWIN_EXPORT VirtualTerminal : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
diff --git a/xcbutils.h b/xcbutils.h
index 7ff7a8902a..2b9a6c8f83 100644
--- a/xcbutils.h
+++ b/xcbutils.h
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ public:
     QVector<QByteArray> errorCodes;
 };
 
-class Extensions
+class KWIN_EXPORT Extensions
 {
 public:
     bool isShapeAvailable() const {