diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index cad15f8..417ba44 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ add_custom_target(PyQt6)
 mo2_python_pip_install(PyQt6
 	DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs/
 	PACKAGES
-		PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}==${Qt_VERSION}
+		PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}==${MO2_QT_VERSION}
 		sip==6.8.5)
 
 # useful for naming DLL, zip, etc. (3.10 -> 310)
diff --git a/src/mobase/CMakeLists.txt b/src/mobase/CMakeLists.txt
index 864fe45..d20310d 100644
--- a/src/mobase/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/mobase/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ find_package(Qt6 COMPONENTS Core)
 find_package(mo2-uibase CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
 pybind11_add_module(mobase MODULE)
-mo2_configure_library(mobase
+mo2_configure_target(mobase
 	SOURCE_TREE
 	WARNINGS 4
 	EXTERNAL_WARNINGS 4
diff --git a/src/proxy/CMakeLists.txt b/src/proxy/CMakeLists.txt
index e34f56f..12b141e 100644
--- a/src/proxy/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/proxy/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ mo2_configure_plugin(proxy
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../pybind11-qt)
 target_link_libraries(proxy PRIVATE runner mo2::uibase)
 set_target_properties(proxy PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME ${PLUGIN_NAME})
-mo2_install_target(proxy FOLDER)
+mo2_install_plugin(proxy FOLDER)
 
 set(PLUGIN_PYTHON_DIR bin/plugins/${PLUGIN_NAME})
 
 # install runner
 target_link_options(proxy PRIVATE "/DELAYLOAD:runner.dll")
-mo2_install_target(runner INSTALLDIR ${PLUGIN_PYTHON_DIR}/dlls)
+install(FILES $<TARGET_FILE:runner> DESTINATION ${PLUGIN_PYTHON_DIR}/dlls)
 
 # translations (custom location)
 mo2_add_translations(proxy
@@ -58,11 +58,8 @@ install(FILES ${pythoncore_zip} DESTINATION ${PYLIB_DIR})
 install(TARGETS mobase DESTINATION ${PYLIB_DIR})
 
 # install PyQt6
-# set(PYQT_LIB_DIR ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs/PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR})
-# set(PYQT_TARGET_DIR ${PYLIB_DIR}/PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR})
-# file(GLOB pyqt_files ${PYQT_LIB_DIR}/*.py ${PYQT_LIB_DIR}/*.pyd ${PYQT_LIB_DIR}/*.pyi)
 install(
-    DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs/PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}
+    DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs/PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}
     DESTINATION ${PYLIB_DIR}
     PATTERN "*.pyd"
     PATTERN "*.pyi"
diff --git a/src/pybind11-qt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/pybind11-qt/CMakeLists.txt
index 451b3c5..f94e496 100644
--- a/src/pybind11-qt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/pybind11-qt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Core Widgets)
 mo2_find_python_executable(PYTHON_EXE)
 
 add_library(pybind11-qt STATIC)
-mo2_configure_library(pybind11-qt
+mo2_configure_target(pybind11-qt
 	SOURCE_TREE
 	WARNINGS 4
 	EXTERNAL_WARNINGS 4
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ add_custom_command(
 	COMMAND
 		${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E env PYTHONPATH=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs
 		${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs/bin/sip-module.exe
-		--sip-h PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}.sip
+		--sip-h PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}.sip
 		--target-dir ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
 )
-target_sources(pybind11-qt PRIVATE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sip.h")
 add_dependencies(PyQt6-siph PyQt6)
-
 add_dependencies(pybind11-qt PyQt6-siph)
 
+target_include_directories(pybind11-qt PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
+
 add_library(pybind11::qt ALIAS pybind11-qt)
diff --git a/src/pybind11-qt/include/pybind11_qt/details/pybind11_qt_sip.h b/src/pybind11-qt/include/pybind11_qt/details/pybind11_qt_sip.h
index 2996c4b..556a980 100644
--- a/src/pybind11-qt/include/pybind11_qt/details/pybind11_qt_sip.h
+++ b/src/pybind11-qt/include/pybind11_qt/details/pybind11_qt_sip.h
@@ -4,21 +4,37 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 
 #include <pybind11/pybind11.h>
-#include <sip.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <pybind11/iostream.h>
 
 #include "../pybind11_qt_holder.h"
 
+struct _sipTypeDef;
+typedef struct _sipTypeDef sipTypeDef;
+
+struct _sipSimpleWrapper;
+typedef struct _sipSimpleWrapper sipSimpleWrapper;
+
+struct _sipWrapper;
+typedef struct _sipWrapper sipWrapper;
+
 namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
 
-    /**
-     * @brief Retrieve the SIP api.
-     *
-     * @return const sipAPIDef*
-     */
-    const sipAPIDef* sipAPI();
+    // helper functions to avoid bringing <sip.h> in this header
+    namespace sip {
+
+        // extract the underlying data if present from the equivalent PyQt object
+        void* extract_data(PyObject*);
+
+        const sipTypeDef* api_find_type(const char* type);
+        int api_can_convert_to_type(PyObject* pyObj, const sipTypeDef* td, int flags);
+
+        void api_transfer_to(PyObject* self, PyObject* owner);
+        void api_transfer_back(PyObject* self);
+        PyObject* api_convert_from_type(void* cpp, const sipTypeDef* td,
+                                        PyObject* transferObj);
+    }  // namespace sip
 
     template <typename T, class = void>
     struct MetaData;
@@ -91,12 +107,11 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
                 }
             }
 
-            const sipTypeDef* type =
-                qt::sipAPI()->api_find_type(MetaData<QClass>::class_name);
+            const auto* type = sip::api_find_type(MetaData<QClass>::class_name);
             if (type == nullptr) {
                 return false;
             }
-            if (!qt::sipAPI()->api_can_convert_to_type(src.ptr(), type, 0)) {
+            if (!sip::api_can_convert_to_type(src.ptr(), type, 0)) {
                 return false;
             }
 
@@ -107,20 +122,14 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
             //
             //   sipAPI()->api_transfer_to(objPtr, Py_None);
             //
-            void* data = nullptr;
-            if (PyObject_TypeCheck(src.ptr(), qt::sipAPI()->api_simplewrapper_type)) {
-                data = reinterpret_cast<sipSimpleWrapper*>(src.ptr())->data;
-            }
-            else if (PyObject_TypeCheck(src.ptr(), qt::sipAPI()->api_wrapper_type)) {
-                data = reinterpret_cast<sipWrapper*>(src.ptr())->super.data;
-            }
+            void* const data = sip::extract_data(src.ptr());
 
             if (data) {
                 if constexpr (is_pointer) {
                     value = reinterpret_cast<QClass>(data);
 
                     // transfer ownership
-                    sipAPI()->api_transfer_to(src.ptr(), Py_None);
+                    sip::api_transfer_to(src.ptr(), Py_None);
 
                     // tie the py::object to the C++ one
                     new pybind11::detail::qt::qobject_holder_impl(value);
@@ -164,8 +173,7 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
                 }
             }
 
-            const sipTypeDef* type =
-                qt::sipAPI()->api_find_type(MetaData<QClass>::class_name);
+            const sipTypeDef* type = sip::api_find_type(MetaData<QClass>::class_name);
             if (type == nullptr) {
                 return Py_None;
             }
@@ -188,7 +196,7 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
                 sipData = &src;
             }
 
-            sipObj = qt::sipAPI()->api_convert_from_type(sipData, type, 0);
+            sipObj = sip::api_convert_from_type(sipData, type, 0);
 
             if (sipObj == nullptr) {
                 return Py_None;
@@ -196,11 +204,11 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
 
             // ensure Python deletes the C++ component
             if constexpr (!is_pointer) {
-                qt::sipAPI()->api_transfer_back(sipObj);
+                sip::api_transfer_back(sipObj);
             }
             else {
                 if (policy == return_value_policy::take_ownership) {
-                    qt::sipAPI()->api_transfer_back(sipObj);
+                    sip::api_transfer_back(sipObj);
                 }
             }
 
diff --git a/src/pybind11-qt/pybind11_qt_sip.cpp b/src/pybind11-qt/pybind11_qt_sip.cpp
index e3e0a1f..69ad4b8 100644
--- a/src/pybind11-qt/pybind11_qt_sip.cpp
+++ b/src/pybind11-qt/pybind11_qt_sip.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 #include <QString>
 
+#include <sip.h>
+
 namespace py = pybind11;
 
 namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
@@ -61,4 +63,43 @@ namespace pybind11::detail::qt {
         return sipApi;
     }
 
+    namespace sip {
+        const sipTypeDef* api_find_type(const char* type)
+        {
+            return sipAPI()->api_find_type(type);
+        }
+
+        int api_can_convert_to_type(PyObject* pyObj, const sipTypeDef* td, int flags)
+        {
+            return sipAPI()->api_can_convert_to_type(pyObj, td, flags);
+        }
+
+        void api_transfer_to(PyObject* self, PyObject* owner)
+        {
+            sipAPI()->api_transfer_to(self, owner);
+        }
+
+        void api_transfer_back(PyObject* self)
+        {
+            sipAPI()->api_transfer_back(self);
+        }
+
+        PyObject* api_convert_from_type(void* cpp, const sipTypeDef* td, PyObject*)
+        {
+            return sipAPI()->api_convert_from_type(cpp, td, 0);
+        }
+
+        void* extract_data(PyObject* ptr)
+        {
+            if (PyObject_TypeCheck(ptr, sipAPI()->api_simplewrapper_type)) {
+                return reinterpret_cast<sipSimpleWrapper*>(ptr)->data;
+            }
+            else if (PyObject_TypeCheck(ptr, sipAPI()->api_wrapper_type)) {
+                return reinterpret_cast<sipWrapper*>(ptr)->super.data;
+            }
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
+    }  // namespace sip
+
 }  // namespace pybind11::detail::qt
diff --git a/src/pybind11-utils/CMakeLists.txt b/src/pybind11-utils/CMakeLists.txt
index 4b2c170..c684115 100644
--- a/src/pybind11-utils/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/pybind11-utils/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
 
 add_library(pybind11-utils STATIC)
-mo2_configure_library(pybind11-utils
+mo2_configure_target(pybind11-utils
 	SOURCE_TREE
 	WARNINGS 4
 	EXTERNAL_WARNINGS 4
diff --git a/src/runner/CMakeLists.txt b/src/runner/CMakeLists.txt
index d02f77d..5a6a3cf 100644
--- a/src/runner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/runner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
 find_package(mo2-uibase CONFIG REQUIRED)
 
 add_library(runner SHARED)
-mo2_configure_library(runner
+mo2_configure_target(runner
 	SOURCE_TREE
 	WARNINGS 4
 	EXTERNAL_WARNINGS 4
diff --git a/tests/python/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 0e23ae8..34d5487 100644
--- a/tests/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ UIBASE_PATH=set:${UIBASE_PATH}"
 mo2_python_pip_install(python-tests
 	DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs
 	PACKAGES pytest
-		PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}==${Qt_VERSION}
-		PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}-Qt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}==${Qt_VERSION})
+		PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}==${MO2_QT_VERSION}
+		PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}-Qt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}==${MO2_QT_VERSION})
 add_dependencies(python-tests mobase)
 set_target_properties(python-tests PROPERTIES FOLDER tests/python)
 
diff --git a/tests/runner/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/runner/CMakeLists.txt
index eb9cd41..65dffaa 100644
--- a/tests/runner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/runner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ mo2_python_pip_install(runner-tests
 	DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pylibs
   PACKAGES
     pytest
-		PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}==${Qt_VERSION}
-		PyQt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}-Qt${Qt_VERSION_MAJOR}==${Qt_VERSION})
+		PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}==${MO2_QT_VERSION}
+		PyQt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}-Qt${MO2_QT_VERSION_MAJOR}==${MO2_QT_VERSION})
 
 add_dependencies(runner-tests mobase)