diff --git a/gmodule/meson.build b/gmodule/meson.build
index f0e7e12a1..e4c1023ec 100644
--- a/gmodule/meson.build
+++ b/gmodule/meson.build
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ if g_module_impl == 'G_MODULE_IMPL_DL'
     rres = cc.run(dlopen_dlsym_test_code,
                   dependencies : libdl_dep,
                   name : 'dlsym() preceding underscores')
-    if host_system == 'windows' or rres.returncode() == 0
+    if host_system == 'windows' or (rres.compiled() and rres.returncode() == 0)
       g_module_need_uscore = 1
     endif
   else
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 7e1b43372..13f28638a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1714,7 +1714,7 @@ va_list_val_copy_prog = '''
 
 if cc_can_run
   rres = cc.run(va_list_val_copy_prog, name : 'va_lists can be copied as values')
-  glib_va_val_copy = rres.returncode() == 0
+  glib_va_val_copy = rres.compiled() and rres.returncode() == 0
 else
   glib_va_val_copy = meson.get_cross_property('va_val_copy', true)
 endif
@@ -1993,7 +1993,7 @@ stack_grows_check_prog = '''
 
 if cc_can_run
   rres = cc.run(stack_grows_check_prog, name : 'stack grows check')
-  growing_stack = rres.returncode() == 0
+  growing_stack = rres.compiled() and rres.returncode() == 0
 else
   growing_stack = meson.get_cross_property('growing_stack', false)
 endif