diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 702f6a36a..353376682 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,17 @@ jobs:
       - run: cmake --build . --target lib3mf_memcheck
         working-directory: ./build
 
+  install-linux-packagers-smoke:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    needs: [set-lib3mf-version]
+    steps:
+      - run: sudo apt update
+      - run: sudo apt install -y ninja-build pkg-config uuid-dev zlib1g-dev libzip-dev libssl-dev
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: true
+      - run: bash CI/install_smoke_test.sh
+
   build-linux-ubi8-gcc12:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     needs: [set-lib3mf-version]
@@ -1112,4 +1123,4 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: integration-test-results
-          path: results.txt
\ No newline at end of file
+          path: results.txt
diff --git a/CI/install_smoke_test.sh b/CI/install_smoke_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..280e97652
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CI/install_smoke_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+root_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+build_dir="${root_dir}/build/install-smoke"
+install_dir="${root_dir}/build/install-root"
+rm -rf "${build_dir}" "${install_dir}"
+
+generator="Unix Makefiles"
+if command -v ninja >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  generator="Ninja"
+fi
+
+cmake -S "${root_dir}" -B "${build_dir}" -G "${generator}" \
+  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+  -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${install_dir}" \
+  -DUSE_INCLUDED_ZLIB=OFF \
+  -DUSE_INCLUDED_LIBZIP=OFF \
+  -DUSE_INCLUDED_SSL=OFF \
+  -DLIB3MF_TESTS=OFF
+
+cmake --build "${build_dir}" --target lib3mf
+cmake --install "${build_dir}"
+
+if ! find "${install_dir}" -type f \( -name "lib3mf*.so" -o -name "lib3mf*.so.*" -o -name "lib3mf*.dylib" \) | grep -q .; then
+  echo "Missing installed shared library (lib3mf*.so|dylib)." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+pc_file=""
+for candidate in \
+  "${install_dir}/lib/pkgconfig/lib3mf.pc" \
+  "${install_dir}/lib64/pkgconfig/lib3mf.pc"
+do
+  if [[ -f "${candidate}" ]]; then
+    pc_file="${candidate}"
+    break
+  fi
+done
+
+if [[ -z "${pc_file}" ]]; then
+  echo "Missing installed lib3mf.pc." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ -f "${install_dir}/include/lib3mf/Bindings/C/lib3mf.h" && -f "${install_dir}/include/lib3mf/Bindings/C/lib3mf_types.h" ]]; then
+  header_root="${install_dir}/include/lib3mf/Bindings/C"
+elif [[ -f "${install_dir}/include/Bindings/C/lib3mf.h" && -f "${install_dir}/include/Bindings/C/lib3mf_types.h" ]]; then
+  header_root="${install_dir}/include/Bindings/C"
+else
+  echo "Missing installed C headers (lib3mf.h, lib3mf_types.h)." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${install_dir}/lib/pkgconfig:${install_dir}/lib64/pkgconfig:${PKG_CONFIG_PATH:-}"
+pkg-config --cflags --libs lib3mf >/dev/null
+
+cat > "${build_dir}/test.c" <<'EOF'
+#include <lib3mf.h>
+
+int main(void) {
+  Lib3MF_uint32 major = 0;
+  Lib3MF_uint32 minor = 0;
+  Lib3MF_uint32 micro = 0;
+  return (int) lib3mf_getlibraryversion(&major, &minor, &micro);
+}
+EOF
+
+cc "${build_dir}/test.c" -o "${build_dir}/test" $(pkg-config --cflags --libs lib3mf)
+
+echo "Install smoke test passed. Headers at: ${header_root}; pkg-config file: ${pc_file}"
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0bebb4063..1fe9bae28 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ cmake_policy(SET CMP0048 NEW)
 
 set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY USE_FOLDERS ON)
 
-include(GNUInstallDirs)
-
 # Define Version
 set(LIB3MF_VERSION_MAJOR 2)        # increase on every backward-compatibility breaking change of the API
 set(LIB3MF_VERSION_MINOR 4)        # increase on every backward compatible change of the API
@@ -18,6 +16,7 @@ project(lib3mf
   VERSION ${LIB3MF_VERSION_MAJOR}.${LIB3MF_VERSION_MINOR}.${LIB3MF_VERSION_MICRO}
   DESCRIPTION "An implementation of the 3D Manufacturing Format file standard"
 )
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
 
 # macOS: ensure zlib includes <unistd.h> (affects ALL targets incl. Tests)
 if(APPLE)
@@ -29,9 +28,16 @@ if(buildcache_program)
   set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE "${buildcache_program}")
 endif()
 
-set(CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR bin CACHE PATH "directory for installing binary files")
-set(CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR lib CACHE PATH "directory for installing library files")
-set(CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR include/lib3mf CACHE PATH "directory for installing header files")
+# Use GNUInstallDirs defaults unless explicitly overridden by the caller.
+if(CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR_INITIALIZED_TO_DEFAULT)
+  set(CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR "bin" CACHE PATH "directory for installing binary files" FORCE)
+endif()
+if(CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR_INITIALIZED_TO_DEFAULT)
+  set(CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR "lib" CACHE PATH "directory for installing library files" FORCE)
+endif()
+if(CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR STREQUAL "include")
+  set(CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR "include/lib3mf" CACHE PATH "directory for installing header files" FORCE)
+endif()
 
 option(USE_INCLUDED_ZLIB "Use included zlib" ON)
 option(USE_INCLUDED_LIBZIP "Use included libzip" ON)
@@ -132,6 +138,13 @@ add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} SHARED ${SRCS_COMMON} ${HDRS_COMMON}
   ${ACT_GENERATED_SOURCE}
   ${VERSION_FILES_OUTPUTLOCATION}
 )
+add_custom_command(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} POST_BUILD
+  COMMAND
+    ${CMAKE_COMMAND}
+    -DTARGET_FILE=$<TARGET_FILE:${PROJECT_NAME}>
+    -P "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/VerifyTargetFile.cmake"
+  VERBATIM
+)
 
 if (${MSVC})
   # using Visual Studio C++
@@ -279,6 +292,7 @@ install(TARGETS ${PROJECT_NAME}
   ARCHIVE DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}"
   LIBRARY DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}"
   RUNTIME DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}")
+
 install(DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR_AUTOGENERATED}/Bindings DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
 
 #########################################################
diff --git a/CMakePresets.json b/CMakePresets.json
index 3b93ba150..28f542d29 100644
--- a/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/CMakePresets.json
@@ -95,6 +95,19 @@
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Release"
             }
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "linux-packagers",
+            "displayName": "Linux Packagers",
+            "description": "Release build on Linux with system dependencies and tests disabled.",
+            "inherits": "linux-base",
+            "cacheVariables": {
+                "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE": "Release",
+                "LIB3MF_TESTS": "OFF",
+                "USE_INCLUDED_ZLIB": "OFF",
+                "USE_INCLUDED_LIBZIP": "OFF",
+                "USE_INCLUDED_SSL": "OFF"
+            }
         }
     ],
     "buildPresets": [
@@ -127,6 +140,11 @@
             "name": "linux-release",
             "displayName": "Build (Linux Release)",
             "configurePreset": "linux-release"
+        },
+        {
+            "name": "linux-packagers",
+            "displayName": "Build (Linux Packagers)",
+            "configurePreset": "linux-packagers"
         }
     ],
     "testPresets": [
@@ -179,4 +197,4 @@
             }
         }
     ]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/cmake/VerifyTargetFile.cmake b/cmake/VerifyTargetFile.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0df998206
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/VerifyTargetFile.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+if(NOT DEFINED TARGET_FILE OR TARGET_FILE STREQUAL "")
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "VerifyTargetFile.cmake: TARGET_FILE is not set.")
+endif()
+
+if(NOT EXISTS "${TARGET_FILE}")
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "VerifyTargetFile.cmake: built target file not found: ${TARGET_FILE}")
+endif()
diff --git a/lib3mf.pc.in b/lib3mf.pc.in
index bb8030abf..b67375c02 100644
--- a/lib3mf.pc.in
+++ b/lib3mf.pc.in
@@ -8,5 +8,6 @@ Description: @PROJECT_DESCRIPTION@
 Version: @PROJECT_VERSION@
 
 Requires:
-Libs: -L${libdir} -l3mf -lzip -lz
-Cflags: -I${includedir}
+Libs: -L${libdir} -l3mf
+Libs.private: -lzip -lz
+Cflags: -I${includedir}/Bindings/C