diff --git a/docs/reference/meson.build b/docs/reference/meson.build
index bdc22a0c3..0dd821ada 100644
--- a/docs/reference/meson.build
+++ b/docs/reference/meson.build
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ if get_option('gtk_doc')
   endif
   # Check we have the minimum gtk-doc version required. Older versions won't
   # generate correct documentation.
-  dependency('gtk-doc', version : '>=1.32')
+  dependency('gtk-doc', version : '>=1.32',
+    fallback : ['gtk-doc', 'dummy_dep'],
+    default_options : ['tests=false'])
 endif
 
 subdir('gio')
diff --git a/subprojects/gtk-doc.wrap b/subprojects/gtk-doc.wrap
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7469d027b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subprojects/gtk-doc.wrap
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[wrap-git]
+directory=gtk-doc
+url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk-doc.git
+revision=master