diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
index 6a1e80334b..5ceb123b06 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.test.tsx
@@ -52,11 +52,21 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
   const plugin1RouteRef = createRouteRef({ path: '/blah1', title: '' });
   const plugin2RouteRef = createRouteRef({ path: '/blah2', title: '' });
   const externalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '3' });
+  const optionalBarExternalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
+    id: 'bar',
+    optional: true,
+  });
+  const optionalBazExternalRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
+    id: 'baz',
+    optional: true,
+  });
 
   const plugin1 = createPlugin({
     id: 'blob',
     externalRoutes: {
       foo: externalRouteRef,
+      bar: optionalBarExternalRouteRef,
+      baz: optionalBazExternalRouteRef,
     },
   });
 
@@ -76,14 +86,21 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
       component: () =>
         Promise.resolve((_: PropsWithChildren<{ path?: string }>) => {
           // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/rules-of-hooks
-          const routeRefFunction = useRouteRef(externalRouteRef);
-          return <div>Our Route Is: {routeRefFunction()}</div>;
+          const externalLink = useRouteRef(externalRouteRef);
+          const barLink = useRouteRef(optionalBarExternalRouteRef);
+          const bazLink = useRouteRef(optionalBazExternalRouteRef);
+          return (
+            <div>
+              Our routes are: {externalLink()}, bar: {barLink?.() ?? 'none'},
+              baz: {bazLink?.() ?? 'none'}
+            </div>
+          );
         }),
       mountPoint: plugin1RouteRef,
     }),
   );
 
-  it('runs happy path', async () => {
+  it('runs happy paths', async () => {
     const components = {
       NotFoundErrorPage: () => null,
       BootErrorPage: () => null,
@@ -106,7 +123,10 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
       plugins: [],
       components,
       bindRoutes: ({ bind }) => {
-        bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, { foo: plugin2RouteRef });
+        bind(plugin1.externalRoutes, {
+          foo: plugin2RouteRef,
+          bar: plugin2RouteRef,
+        });
       },
     });
 
@@ -124,7 +144,9 @@ describe('Integration Test', () => {
       </Provider>,
     );
 
-    expect(screen.getByText('Our Route Is: /foo/bar')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText('Our routes are: /foo/bar, bar: /foo/bar, baz: none'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it('should throw some error when the route has duplicate params', () => {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
index 1cf2d892d0..9ab19b5588 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/App.tsx
@@ -84,8 +84,14 @@ export function generateBoundRoutes(
         if (!externalRoute) {
           throw new Error(`Key ${key} is not an existing external route`);
         }
-
-        result.set(externalRoute, value);
+        if (!value && !externalRoute.optional) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `External route ${key} is required but was undefined`,
+          );
+        }
+        if (value) {
+          result.set(externalRoute, value);
+        }
       }
     };
     bindRoutes({ bind });
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
index ec7b70689d..a54234b046 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/app/types.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 
 import { ComponentType } from 'react';
 import { IconComponent, IconComponentMap, IconKey } from '../icons';
-import { BackstagePlugin, AnyExternalRoutes } from '../plugin/types';
-import { RouteRef } from '../routing';
+import { BackstagePlugin } from '../plugin/types';
+import { ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef } from '../routing';
 import { AnyApiFactory } from '../apis';
 import { AppTheme, ProfileInfo } from '../apis/definitions';
 import { AppConfig } from '@backstage/config';
@@ -79,9 +79,49 @@ export type AppComponents = {
  */
 export type AppConfigLoader = () => Promise<AppConfig[]>;
 
-export type AppRouteBinder = <T extends AnyExternalRoutes>(
-  externalRoutes: T,
-  targetRoutes: { [key in keyof T]: RouteRef<any> },
+/**
+ * Extracts the Optional type of a map of ExternalRouteRefs, leaving only the boolean in place as value
+ */
+type ExternalRouteRefsToOptionalMap<
+  T extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
+> = {
+  [name in keyof T]: T[name] extends ExternalRouteRef<infer U> ? U : never;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Extracts a union of the keys in a map whose value extends the given type
+ */
+type ExtractKeysWithType<Obj extends { [key in string]: any }, Type> = {
+  [key in keyof Obj]: Obj[key] extends Type ? key : never;
+}[keyof Obj];
+
+/**
+ * Given a map of boolean values denoting whether a rout is optional, create a
+ * map of needed RouteRefs.
+ *
+ * For example { foo: false, bar: true } gives { foo: RouteRef<any>, bar?: RouteRef<any> }
+ */
+type CombineOptionalAndRequiredRoutes<
+  OptionalMap extends { [key in string]: boolean }
+> = {
+  [name in ExtractKeysWithType<OptionalMap, false>]: RouteRef<any>;
+} &
+  { [name in keyof OptionalMap]?: RouteRef<any> };
+
+/**
+ * Creates a map of required target routes based on whether the input external
+ * routes are optional or not. The external routes that are marked as optional
+ * will also be optional in the target routes map.
+ */
+type TargetRoutesMap<
+  T extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
+> = CombineOptionalAndRequiredRoutes<ExternalRouteRefsToOptionalMap<T>>;
+
+export type AppRouteBinder = <
+  ExternalRoutes extends { [name in string]: ExternalRouteRef<boolean> }
+>(
+  externalRoutes: ExternalRoutes,
+  targetRoutes: TargetRoutesMap<ExternalRoutes>,
 ) => void;
 
 export type AppOptions = {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts b/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
index 5ae85ab553..dc97afbe96 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/RouteRef.ts
@@ -64,23 +64,36 @@ export function createRouteRef<
   return new AbsoluteRouteRef<Params>(config);
 }
 
-export class ExternalRouteRef {
-  private constructor(id: string) {
+export class ExternalRouteRef<Optional extends boolean = true> {
+  readonly optional: boolean;
+
+  private constructor({ id, optional }: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>) {
     this.toString = () => `externalRouteRef{${id}}`;
+    this.optional = Boolean(optional);
   }
 }
 
-export type ExternalRouteRefOptions = {
+export type ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional extends boolean = false> = {
   /**
    * An identifier for this route, used to identify it in error messages
    */
   id: string;
+
+  /**
+   * Whether or not this route is optional, defaults to false.
+   *
+   * Optional external routes are not required to be bound in the app, and
+   * if aren't, `useRouteRef` will return `undefined`.
+   */
+  optional?: Optional;
 };
 
-export function createExternalRouteRef(
-  options: ExternalRouteRefOptions,
-): ExternalRouteRef {
+export function createExternalRouteRef<Optional extends boolean = false>(
+  options: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>,
+): ExternalRouteRef<Optional> {
   return new ((ExternalRouteRef as unknown) as {
-    new (id: string): ExternalRouteRef;
-  })(options.id);
+    new (options: ExternalRouteRefOptions<Optional>): ExternalRouteRef<
+      Optional
+    >;
+  })(options);
 }
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
index 462b44c3bd..94cd3a704d 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.test.tsx
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import {
   ExternalRouteRef,
   RouteRefConfig,
 } from './RouteRef';
-import { RouteRef } from './types';
+import { AnyRouteRef, RouteRef } from './types';
 
 const mockConfig = (extra?: Partial<RouteRefConfig<{}>>) => ({
   path: '/unused',
@@ -62,18 +62,22 @@ const ref5 = createRouteRef(mockConfig({ path: '/wat5' }));
 const eRefA = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '1' });
 const eRefB = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '2' });
 const eRefC = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '3' });
+const eRefD = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '4', optional: true });
+const eRefE = createExternalRouteRef({ id: '5', optional: true });
 
 const MockRouteSource = <T extends { [name in string]: string }>(props: {
   path?: string;
   name: string;
-  routeRef: RouteRef<T> | ExternalRouteRef;
+  routeRef: AnyRouteRef;
   params?: T;
 }) => {
   try {
-    const routeFunc = useRouteRef(props.routeRef) as RouteFunc<any>;
+    const routeFunc = useRouteRef(props.routeRef as any) as
+      | RouteFunc<any>
+      | undefined;
     return (
       <div>
-        Path at {props.name}: {routeFunc(props.params)}
+        Path at {props.name}: {routeFunc?.(props.params) ?? '<none>'}
       </div>
     );
   } catch (ex) {
@@ -156,6 +160,8 @@ describe('discovery', () => {
         <MockRouteSource name="outside" routeRef={ref2} />
         <MockRouteSource name="outsideExternal1" routeRef={eRefB} />
         <MockRouteSource name="outsideExternal2" routeRef={eRefC} />
+        <MockRouteSource name="outsideExternal3" routeRef={eRefD} />
+        <MockRouteSource name="outsideExternal4" routeRef={eRefE} />
       </MemoryRouter>
     );
 
@@ -164,6 +170,7 @@ describe('discovery', () => {
         [eRefA, ref3],
         [eRefB, ref1],
         [eRefC, ref2],
+        [eRefD, ref1],
       ]),
     );
 
@@ -180,6 +187,12 @@ describe('discovery', () => {
     expect(
       rendered.getByText('Path at outsideExternal2: /foo/bar'),
     ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      rendered.getByText('Path at outsideExternal3: /foo'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      rendered.getByText('Path at outsideExternal4: <none>'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it('should handle routeRefs with parameters', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
index c478027ae2..54490fb4f2 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/hooks.tsx
@@ -35,22 +35,23 @@ class RouteResolver {
     private readonly routePaths: Map<AnyRouteRef, string>,
     private readonly routeParents: Map<AnyRouteRef, AnyRouteRef | undefined>,
     private readonly routeObjects: BackstageRouteObject[],
-    private readonly routeBindings: Map<ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef>,
+    private readonly routeBindings: Map<RouteRef | ExternalRouteRef, RouteRef>,
   ) {}
 
   resolve<Params extends { [param in string]: string }>(
     routeRefOrExternalRouteRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef,
     sourceLocation: ReturnType<typeof useLocation>,
-  ): RouteFunc<Params> {
+  ): RouteFunc<Params> | undefined {
     const routeRef =
       this.routeBindings.get(routeRefOrExternalRouteRef) ??
       (routeRefOrExternalRouteRef as RouteRef<Params>);
 
     const match = matchRoutes(this.routeObjects, sourceLocation) ?? [];
 
+    // If our route isn't bound to a path we fail the resolution and let the caller decide the failure mode
     const lastPath = this.routePaths.get(routeRef);
     if (!lastPath) {
-      throw new Error(`No path for ${routeRef}`);
+      return undefined;
     }
     const targetRefStack = Array<AnyRouteRef>();
     let matchIndex = -1;
@@ -111,9 +112,15 @@ class RouteResolver {
 
 const RoutingContext = createContext<RouteResolver | undefined>(undefined);
 
+export function useRouteRef<Optional extends boolean>(
+  routeRef: ExternalRouteRef<Optional>,
+): Optional extends true ? RouteFunc<{}> | undefined : RouteFunc<{}>;
+export function useRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}>(
+  routeRef: RouteRef<Params>,
+): RouteFunc<Params>;
 export function useRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}>(
   routeRef: RouteRef<Params> | ExternalRouteRef,
-): RouteFunc<Params> {
+): RouteFunc<Params> | undefined {
   const sourceLocation = useLocation();
   const resolver = useContext(RoutingContext);
   const routeFunc = useMemo(
@@ -121,10 +128,15 @@ export function useRouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}>(
     [resolver, routeRef, sourceLocation],
   );
 
-  if (!routeFunc) {
+  if (!routeFunc && !resolver) {
     throw new Error('No route resolver found in context');
   }
 
+  const isOptional = 'optional' in routeRef && routeRef.optional;
+  if (!routeFunc && !isOptional) {
+    throw new Error(`No path for ${routeRef}`);
+  }
+
   return routeFunc;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
index 5f9376c1d2..b21fa38052 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/routing/types.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 
 import { IconComponent } from '../icons';
+import { ExternalRouteRef } from './RouteRef';
 
 // @ts-ignore, we're just embedding the Params type for usage in other places
 export type RouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}> = {
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ export type RouteRef<Params extends { [param in string]: string } = {}> = {
   title: string;
 };
 
-export type AnyRouteRef = RouteRef<any>;
+export type AnyRouteRef = RouteRef<any> | ExternalRouteRef<any>;
 
 /**
  * This type should not be used