diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9ca039e8..024c2668 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ add_project_arguments('-DLABWC_VERSION=@0@'.format(version), language: 'c')
 wlroots_version = ['>=0.15.0', '<0.16.0']
 wlroots_proj = subproject(
   'wlroots',
-  default_options: ['examples=false'],
+  default_options: ['default_library=static', 'examples=false'],
   required: false,
   version: wlroots_version,
 )