diff --git a/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index 4ae3323bb..f97c69129 100644
--- a/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,11 +58,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_CHARSET)
-  if(ICONV_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(charset)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Iconv not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(charset)
 else()
   add_custom_target(charset COMMAND true)
 endif()
@@ -110,113 +106,55 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_PERL)
-  find_package(Perl)
-  if(PERL_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(perl)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Perl not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(perl)
 else()
   add_custom_target(perl COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_PYTHON)
-  if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.18.0")
-    find_package(Python 3.0 COMPONENTS Development)
-  else()
-    find_package(Python 3.0 COMPONENTS Development.Embed)
-  endif()
-  if(Python_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(python)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Python not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(python)
 else()
   add_custom_target(python COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_RUBY)
-  find_package(Ruby)
-  if(RUBY_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(ruby)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Ruby not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(ruby)
 else()
   add_custom_target(ruby COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_LUA)
-  find_package(Lua)
-  if(LUA_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(lua)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Lua not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(lua)
 else()
   add_custom_target(lua COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_TCL)
-  find_package(TCL)
-  if(TCL_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(tcl)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Tcl not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(tcl)
 else()
   add_custom_target(tcl COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_GUILE)
-  find_package(Guile)
-  if(GUILE_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(guile)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Guile not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(guile)
 else()
   add_custom_target(guile COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_JAVASCRIPT)
-  find_package(V8)
-  if(V8_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(javascript)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "V8 (javascript) not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(javascript)
 else()
   add_custom_target(javascript COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SCRIPTS AND ENABLE_PHP)
-  find_package(PHP)
-  if(PHP_FOUND)
-    add_subdirectory(php)
-  else()
-    message(SEND_ERROR "Php not found")
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(php)
 else()
   add_custom_target(php COMMAND true)
 endif()
 
 if(ENABLE_SPELL)
-  if(ENABLE_ENCHANT)
-    pkg_check_modules(ENCHANT enchant-2)
-    if(ENCHANT_FOUND)
-      add_subdirectory(spell)
-    else()
-      message(SEND_ERROR "Enchant not found")
-    endif()
-  else()
-    find_package(Aspell)
-    if(ASPELL_FOUND)
-      add_subdirectory(spell)
-    else()
-      message(SEND_ERROR "Aspell not found")
-    endif()
-  endif()
+  add_subdirectory(spell)
 else()
   add_custom_target(spell COMMAND true)
 endif()
diff --git a/src/plugins/charset/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/charset/CMakeLists.txt
index 7c918223c..557807637 100644
--- a/src/plugins/charset/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/charset/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,18 +19,20 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-add_library(charset MODULE
-  charset.c charset.h
-)
-set_target_properties(charset PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
-
 if(ICONV_FOUND)
+  add_library(charset MODULE
+    charset.c charset.h
+  )
+  set_target_properties(charset PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
+
   include_directories(${ICONV_INCLUDE_PATH})
   if(ICONV_LIBRARY)
     target_link_libraries(charset ${ICONV_LIBRARY} coverage_config)
   else()
     target_link_libraries(charset coverage_config)
   endif()
-endif()
 
-install(TARGETS charset LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
+  install(TARGETS charset LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
+else()
+  message(SEND_ERROR "Iconv not found")
+endif()
diff --git a/src/plugins/guile/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/guile/CMakeLists.txt
index 773600a07..ae67a6b62 100644
--- a/src/plugins/guile/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/guile/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,17 +19,15 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(Guile REQUIRED)
+
 add_library(guile MODULE
   weechat-guile.c weechat-guile.h
   weechat-guile-api.c weechat-guile-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(guile PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(GUILE_FOUND)
-  include_directories(${GUILE_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  set(LINK_LIBS)
-  list(APPEND LINK_LIBS ${GUILE_LDFLAGS})
-  target_link_libraries(guile ${LINK_LIBS} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
+include_directories(${GUILE_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+target_link_libraries(guile ${GUILE_LDFLAGS} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS guile LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/javascript/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
index 3dbc4a0a5..6acea675a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/javascript/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(V8 REQUIRED)
+
 enable_language(CXX)
 
 add_library(javascript MODULE
@@ -28,9 +30,7 @@ add_library(javascript MODULE
 )
 set_target_properties(javascript PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(V8_FOUND)
-  include_directories(${V8_INCLUDE_DIR})
-  target_link_libraries(javascript ${V8_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
+include_directories(${V8_INCLUDE_DIR})
+target_link_libraries(javascript ${V8_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS javascript LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/lua/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/lua/CMakeLists.txt
index e67930867..e166d14c8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lua/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/lua/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,16 +20,16 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(Lua REQUIRED)
+
 add_library(lua MODULE
   weechat-lua.c weechat-lua.h
   weechat-lua-api.c weechat-lua-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(lua PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(LUA_FOUND)
-  add_definitions(${LUA_CFLAGS})
-  include_directories(${LUA_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  target_link_libraries(lua ${LUA_LDFLAGS} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
+add_definitions(${LUA_CFLAGS})
+include_directories(${LUA_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+target_link_libraries(lua ${LUA_LDFLAGS} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS lua LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/perl/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/perl/CMakeLists.txt
index e844d9d76..2dacece7e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/perl/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/perl/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,31 +19,31 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(Perl REQUIRED)
+
 add_library(perl MODULE
   weechat-perl.c weechat-perl.h
   weechat-perl-api.c weechat-perl-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(perl PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(PERL_FOUND)
-  if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Darwin")
-    # remove "-arch xxx" on macOS
-    string(REGEX REPLACE "-arch ppc|-arch i386|-arch x86_64" "" PERL_CFLAGS "${PERL_CFLAGS}")
-    string(REGEX REPLACE "-arch ppc|-arch i386|-arch x86_64" "" PERL_LFLAGS "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
-  endif()
-  add_definitions(${PERL_CFLAGS})
-  include_directories(${PERL_INCLUDE_PATH})
-  # ugly hack to force linking against Dynaloader.a
-  string(REGEX MATCH "/[^ $]*/DynaLoader.a" PERL_DYNALOADER "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
-  if(PERL_DYNALOADER)
-    string(REPLACE "${PERL_DYNALOADER}" "" PERL_LFLAGS "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
-    set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PERL_LFLAGS}")
-    execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy ${PERL_DYNALOADER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libDynaLoader.a)
-    target_link_libraries(perl ${PERL_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libDynaLoader.a coverage_config)
-  else()
-    set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PERL_LFLAGS}")
-    target_link_libraries(perl ${PERL_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-  endif()
+if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Darwin")
+  # remove "-arch xxx" on macOS
+  string(REGEX REPLACE "-arch ppc|-arch i386|-arch x86_64" "" PERL_CFLAGS "${PERL_CFLAGS}")
+  string(REGEX REPLACE "-arch ppc|-arch i386|-arch x86_64" "" PERL_LFLAGS "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
+endif()
+add_definitions(${PERL_CFLAGS})
+include_directories(${PERL_INCLUDE_PATH})
+# ugly hack to force linking against Dynaloader.a
+string(REGEX MATCH "/[^ $]*/DynaLoader.a" PERL_DYNALOADER "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
+if(PERL_DYNALOADER)
+  string(REPLACE "${PERL_DYNALOADER}" "" PERL_LFLAGS "${PERL_LFLAGS}")
+  set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PERL_LFLAGS}")
+  execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy ${PERL_DYNALOADER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libDynaLoader.a)
+  target_link_libraries(perl ${PERL_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libDynaLoader.a coverage_config)
+else()
+  set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PERL_LFLAGS}")
+  target_link_libraries(perl ${PERL_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 endif()
 
 install(TARGETS perl LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/php/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/php/CMakeLists.txt
index 64501d6b4..eb2586620 100644
--- a/src/plugins/php/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/php/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,16 +19,16 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(PHP REQUIRED)
+
 add_library(php MODULE
   weechat-php.c weechat-php.h
   weechat-php-api.c weechat-php-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(php PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(PHP_FOUND)
-  include_directories(${PHP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PHP_LDFLAGS}")
-  target_link_libraries(php ${PHP_LIB} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
+include_directories(${PHP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${PHP_LDFLAGS}")
+target_link_libraries(php ${PHP_LIB} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS php LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/python/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 1e1bfc6e2..e45e3e426 100644
--- a/src/plugins/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,16 +19,20 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.18.0")
+  find_package(Python 3.0 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Development)
+else()
+  find_package(Python 3.0 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Development.Embed)
+endif()
+
 add_library(python MODULE
   weechat-python.c weechat-python.h
   weechat-python-api.c weechat-python-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(python PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(Python_FOUND)
-  include_directories(${Python_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  add_definitions(${Python_DEFINITIONS})
-  target_link_libraries(python ${Python_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
+include_directories(${Python_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+add_definitions(${Python_DEFINITIONS})
+target_link_libraries(python ${Python_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS python LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
index f91db80be..fe72c7c56 100644
--- a/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,19 +19,19 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+find_package(Ruby REQUIRED)
+
 add_library(ruby MODULE
   weechat-ruby.c weechat-ruby.h
   weechat-ruby-api.c weechat-ruby-api.h
 )
 set_target_properties(ruby PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
 
-if(RUBY_FOUND)
-  # temporary fix: ignore all warnings on unused parameters due to warnings
-  # caused by Ruby headers (with Ruby ≥ 3.1.0)
-  # see: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/7085
-  add_definitions(-Wno-unused-parameter)
-  include_directories(${Ruby_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  target_link_libraries(ruby ${Ruby_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif(RUBY_FOUND)
+# temporary fix: ignore all warnings on unused parameters due to warnings
+# caused by Ruby headers (with Ruby ≥ 3.1.0)
+# see: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/7085
+add_definitions(-Wno-unused-parameter)
+include_directories(${Ruby_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+target_link_libraries(ruby ${Ruby_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
 
 install(TARGETS ruby LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
diff --git a/src/plugins/spell/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/spell/CMakeLists.txt
index 199e9c2b3..a35f02fd2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/spell/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/spell/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+if(ENABLE_ENCHANT)
+  pkg_check_modules(ENCHANT REQUIRED enchant-2)
+else()
+  find_package(Aspell REQUIRED)
+endif()
+
 add_library(spell MODULE
   spell.c spell.h
   spell-bar-item.c spell-bar-item.h
diff --git a/src/plugins/tcl/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/tcl/CMakeLists.txt
index d5932e207..d394a2696 100644
--- a/src/plugins/tcl/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/tcl/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,16 +21,19 @@
 # along with WeeChat.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-add_library(tcl MODULE
-  weechat-tcl.c weechat-tcl.h
-  weechat-tcl-api.c weechat-tcl-api.h
-)
-set_target_properties(tcl PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
-
+find_package(TCL)
 if(TCL_FOUND)
+  add_library(tcl MODULE
+    weechat-tcl.c weechat-tcl.h
+    weechat-tcl-api.c weechat-tcl-api.h
+  )
+  set_target_properties(tcl PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
+
   include_directories(${TCL_INCLUDE_PATH})
   set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS} ${TCL_LFLAGS}")
   target_link_libraries(tcl ${TCL_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-endif()
 
-install(TARGETS tcl LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
+  install(TARGETS tcl LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")
+else()
+  message(SEND_ERROR "Tcl not found")
+endif()
diff --git a/tools/debian/patches/weechat_ubuntu_focal.patch b/tools/debian/patches/weechat_ubuntu_focal.patch
index 60e914c11..7de5d0ae9 100644
--- a/tools/debian/patches/weechat_ubuntu_focal.patch
+++ b/tools/debian/patches/weechat_ubuntu_focal.patch
@@ -36,17 +36,16 @@ index 086056f76..559ccfffb 100755
  		-DENABLE_MAN:BOOL=ON \
  		-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=RelWithDebInfo \
 diff --git a/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
-index 9f921fde8..2860f7d6d 100644
+index fe72c7c56..1fb293512 100644
 --- a/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
 +++ b/src/plugins/ruby/CMakeLists.txt
-@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ if(RUBY_FOUND)
-   # caused by Ruby headers (with Ruby ≥ 3.1.0)
-   # see: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/7085
-   add_definitions(-Wno-unused-parameter)
--  include_directories(${Ruby_INCLUDE_DIRS})
--  target_link_libraries(ruby ${Ruby_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
-+  include_directories(${RUBY_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-+  target_link_libraries(ruby ${RUBY_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
- endif(RUBY_FOUND)
+@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ set_target_properties(ruby PROPERTIES PREFIX "")
+ # caused by Ruby headers (with Ruby ≥ 3.1.0)
+ # see: https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/7085
+ add_definitions(-Wno-unused-parameter)
+-include_directories(${Ruby_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+-target_link_libraries(ruby ${Ruby_LIBRARIES} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
++include_directories(${RUBY_INCLUDE_DIRS})
++target_link_libraries(ruby ${RUBY_LIBRARY} weechat_plugins_scripts coverage_config)
  
  install(TARGETS ruby LIBRARY DESTINATION "${WEECHAT_LIBDIR}/plugins")