diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ad4582421331..3f0b979794db 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -10574,7 +10574,7 @@ if test $enable_python = system; then
         # This causes an error if no python command is found
         # the version found here also sets PYTHON_FOR_BUILD below, so the python picked here
         # needs to be suitable for meson/the harfbuzz build
-        if test "$with_system_harfbuzz" = "yes" -o -n "$NEED_MESON" ; then
+        if test "$with_system_harfbuzz" != "yes" -o -n "$NEED_MESON" ; then
             AM_PATH_PYTHON([3.7])
         else
             AM_PATH_PYTHON([3.3])