diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b020caa44..6a8c5b5d8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -136,8 +136,12 @@ girepo_lib = shared_library('girepository-1.0',
   install: true,
 )
 
-install_data('gdump.c',
-  install_dir: join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'gobject-introspection-1.0')
+# Copy to builddir for use with giscanner/dumper.py when running uninstalled
+configure_file(input : 'gdump.c',
+  output : 'gdump.c',
+  configuration : configuration_data(),
+  install_dir: join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'gobject-introspection-1.0'),
+  install : true,
 )
 
 girepo_dep = declare_dependency(