diff --git a/.ci/ogc/build.sh b/.ci/ogc/build.sh
index 429c7db8a85..802fe5078a6 100755
--- a/.ci/ogc/build.sh
+++ b/.ci/ogc/build.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ cmake -GNinja \
  -DWITH_QWTPOLAR=OFF \
  -DWITH_APIDOC=OFF \
  -DWITH_ASTYLE=OFF \
- -DWITH_GEOREFERENCER=OFF \
  -DWITH_ANALYSIS=ON \
  -DWITH_DESKTOP=OFF \
  -DWITH_GUI=OFF \
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 71d69e21621..e1bcc6f2f3e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -279,8 +279,6 @@ if(WITH_CORE)
   endif()
   set (WITH_QTMOBILITY ${DEFAULT_WITH_QTMOBILITY} CACHE BOOL "Determines if QtMobility related code should be build (for example internal GPS)")
 
-  set (WITH_GEOREFERENCER TRUE CACHE BOOL "Determines whether GeoReferencer plugin should be built")
-
   set (WITH_THREAD_LOCAL TRUE CACHE BOOL "Determines whether std::thread_local should be used")
   mark_as_advanced(WITH_THREAD_LOCAL)
 
@@ -710,9 +708,7 @@ set(WITH_GSL TRUE CACHE BOOL "Determines whether GSL library should be used")
 if (WITH_ANALYSIS AND WITH_GSL)
   find_package(GSL REQUIRED)
   set(HAVE_GSL TRUE)
-  if (WITH_GEOREFERENCER)
-    set(HAVE_GEOREFERENCER TRUE)
-  endif()
+  set(HAVE_GEOREFERENCER TRUE)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_COVERAGE)
diff --git a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
index a00b68b94cd..cb9b36b952a 100644
--- a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ if (WITH_SPATIALITE)
   )
 endif()
 
-if (WITH_GEOREFERENCER)
+if (HAVE_GEOREFERENCER)
   set(QGIS_APP_SRCS
     ${QGIS_APP_SRCS}
     georeferencer/qgsgcpcanvasitem.cpp
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ if (WITH_3D)
   target_link_libraries(qgis_app qgis_3d)
 endif()
 
-if (WITH_GEOREFERENCER)
+if (HAVE_GEOREFERENCER)
   include_directories(SYSTEM
     ${GSL_INCLUDE_DIR}
   )