diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1f67599b..a5f20aaf 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ wayland_client = dependency('wayland-client')
 wayland_cursor = dependency('wayland-cursor')
 xkb = dependency('xkbcommon')
 
+tllist = dependency('tllist', fallback: ['tllist', 'tllist'])
+fcft = dependency('fcft', fallback: ['fcft', 'fcft'])
+
 wayland_protocols_datadir = wayland_protocols.get_pkgconfig_variable('pkgdatadir')
 
 wscanner = dependency('wayland-scanner', native: true)
@@ -60,20 +63,6 @@ version = custom_target(
   output: 'version.h',
   command: [generate_version_sh, meson.project_version(), '@SOURCE_DIR@', '@OUTPUT@'])
 
-tllist_proj = subproject('tllist', required: false)
-if tllist_proj.found()
-  tllist = tllist_proj.get_variable('tllist')
-else
-  tllist = dependency('tllist')
-endif
-
-fcft_proj = subproject('fcft', required: false)
-if fcft_proj.found()
-  fcft = fcft_proj.get_variable('fcft')
-else
-  fcft = dependency('fcft')
-endif
-
 executable(
   'foot',
   'async.c', 'async.h',