diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 208f0f04..b8e7f333 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@
 * `underline-offset` option to `foot.ini`
   (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/490).
 * `csd.button-color` option to `foot.ini`.
+* `-Dterminfo-install-location=disabled|<custom-path>` meson command
+  line option (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/569).
 
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 1f0abf6a..8ef3cac1 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -128,10 +128,34 @@ mkdir -p bld/release && cd bld/release
 
 Available compile-time options:
 
-| Option       | Type    | Default | Description         | Extra dependencies |
-|--------------|---------|---------|---------------------|--------------------|
-| `-Dime`      | bool    | `true`  | Enables IME support | None               |
-| `-Dterminfo` | feature | `auto`  | Build terminfo      | `tic` (ncurses)    |
+| Option                        | Type    | Default               | Description                           | Extra dependencies |
+|-------------------------------|---------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------|
+| `-Dime`                       | bool    | `true`                | Enables IME support                   | None               |
+| `-Dterminfo`                  | feature | `auto`                | Build terminfo files                  | `tic` (ncurses)    |
+| `-Dterminfo-install-location` | string  | `${datadir}/terminfo` | Where to  install the terminfo files  | None               |
+
+The two `terminfo` options are related, but control different aspects
+of how the terminfo files are built, installed and used.
+
+`-Dterminfo` controls if the terminfo files should be generated _at
+all_. If disabled, foot’s hardcoded default terminfo is
+`xterm-256color` instead of `foot`.
+
+`-Dterminfo-install-location` controls _where_ the terminfo files are
+installed, relative to the installation prefix. The default is
+`${datadir}/terminfo`.
+
+It also recognizes the special value `disabled`, that prevents the
+terminfo files from being _installed_. They are still _built_, and
+foot’s hardcoded default terminfo is still `foot`. It is intended to
+be used when the terminfo files are packaged in a separate package
+(something I **highly** recommend distros do).
+
+To build the terminfo files manually, run
+
+```sh
+tic -x -o <output-directory> -e foot,foot-direct foot.info
+```
 
 
 ### Release build
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 479f5747..14d23975 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -216,13 +216,20 @@ executable(
   install: true)
 
 if tic.found()
+  terminfo_install_location = get_option('terminfo-install-location')
+  if terminfo_install_location == ''
+    terminfo_install_location = join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'terminfo')
+  endif
+
   custom_target(
     'terminfo',
     output: 'f',
     input: 'foot.info',
     command: [tic, '-x', '-o', '@OUTDIR@', '-e', 'foot,foot-direct', '@INPUT@'],
-    install: true,
-    install_dir: join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'terminfo'))
+    install: terminfo_install_location != 'disabled',
+    install_dir: terminfo_install_location)
+else
+  terminfo_install_location = 'disabled'
 endif
 
 install_data(
@@ -240,6 +247,8 @@ subdir('icons')
 summary(
   {
     'IME': get_option('ime'),
+    'Terminfo': tic.found(),
+    'Terminfo install location': terminfo_install_location,
   },
   bool_yn: true
 )
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index b21bc7a4..52625b8d 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 option('ime', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'IME (Input Method Editor) support')
-option('terminfo', type: 'feature', description: 'Install terminfo')
+
+option('terminfo', type: 'feature', description: 'Build terminfo. When disabled, foot\'s terminfo will not be built, and foot will default to \'xterm-256color\' instead of \'foot\'.')
+
+option('terminfo-install-location', type: 'string', description: 'Where to install the foot terminfo files, relative to the installation prefix. If set to \'disabled\', the terminfo files are not installed at all (useful when packaging the terminfo files in a separate package). Defaults to $datadir/terminfo.')