diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 7b7c9f4ce..0790bad4f 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ option('man',
        description: 'Build manpages',
        type: 'boolean',
        value: true)
+option('tests',
+       description: 'Build tests',
+       type: 'boolean',
+       value: true)
 option('gstreamer',
        description: 'Build GStreamer plugins',
        type: 'boolean',
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 1b43663a3..14e8ff389 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ subdir('modules')
 if get_option('examples')
   subdir('examples')
 endif
-subdir('tests')
+if get_option('tests')
+  subdir('tests')
+endif
 
 if get_option('gstreamer')
   subdir('gst')