diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index af344634f..29df15217 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2682,7 +2682,9 @@ subdir('gmodule')
 subdir('gio')
 subdir('girepository')
 subdir('fuzzing')
-subdir('tests')
+if get_option('tests')
+  subdir('tests')
+endif
 
 # xgettext is optional (on Windows for instance)
 if find_program('xgettext', required : get_option('nls')).found()