diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 07290797..60de87fa 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -48,11 +48,8 @@ if git.found()
 endif
 add_project_arguments('-DLABWC_VERSION=@0@'.format(version), language: 'c')
 
-wlroots = dependency(
-  'wlroots',
-  default_options: ['default_library=static', 'examples=false'],
-  version: ['>=0.16.0', '<0.17.0'],
-)
+# jlindgren: force use of wlroots subproject
+wlroots = subproject('wlroots').get_variable('wlroots')
 
 wlroots_has_xwayland = wlroots.get_variable('have_xwayland') == 'true'
 
diff --git a/subprojects/wlroots.wrap b/subprojects/wlroots.wrap
index 8f847367..d8f129ee 100644
--- a/subprojects/wlroots.wrap
+++ b/subprojects/wlroots.wrap
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [wrap-git]
-url = https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/wlroots/wlroots.git
-revision = 0.16
+# jlindgren: use 0.16-backports branch of wlroots
+url = https://github.com/jlindgren90/wlroots.git
+revision = 0.16-backports
 
 [provide]
 dependency_names = wlroots