diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.cc
index f9d4e60b8..998baca4f 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.cc
@@ -119,12 +119,12 @@ std::string tr (const char *s)
 
 }
 
-#if ! defined(HAVE_QT)
-
-std::string tr (const char *s)
+std::string tr_fallback (const char *s)
 {
+#if defined(HAVE_QT)
+  return tl::to_string (QObject::tr (s));
+#else
   //  TODO: this is a fallback implementation without translation
   return std::string (s);
-}
-
 #endif
+}
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.h b/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.h
index dd0bf473e..99038676f 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlInternational.h
@@ -43,7 +43,18 @@ inline QString tr (const char *s)
   return QObject::tr (s);
 }
 #else
-std::string TL_PUBLIC tr (const char *s);
+
+//  NOTE: with this definition in place, we can build plugins without Qt,
+//  by using "tr" and falling back here, even if Qt is enabled
+
+#define __KLAYOUT_TL_HAVE_TR_FALLBACK
+std::string TL_PUBLIC tr_fallback (const char *s);
+
+inline std::string tr (const char *s)
+{
+  return tl::tr_fallback (s);
+}
+
 #endif
 
 namespace tl