diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3f153ed4..ddfe4cb3 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ add_project_arguments(
     ['-pedantic',
      '-fstrict-aliasing',
      '-Wstrict-aliasing']) +
-  (get_option('ext-underline')
+  (get_option('ext-underline').enabled()
     ? ['-DFOOT_EXT_UNDERLINE=1']
     : ['-DFOOT_EXT_UNDERLINE=0']),
   language: 'c',
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index c0fe01c2..45b2f9c2 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -28,5 +28,5 @@ option('utmp-backend', type: 'combo', value: 'auto', choices: ['none', 'libutemp
 option('utmp-default-helper-path', type: 'string', value: 'auto',
        description: 'Default path to the utmp helper binary. Default: auto-detect')
 
-option('ext-underline', type: 'boolean', value: false,
-      description: 'Enable underline styles & colors from xterm-kitty')
+option('ext-underline', type: 'feature', value: 'disabled',
+       description: 'Enable underline styles & colors similar to those in kitty terminal')