diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index fdd8bf655..61660b981 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -614,8 +614,9 @@ if dbus_dep.found()
   cdata.set('HAVE_DBUS', 1)
 endif
 
-gio_dep = dependency('gio-2.0', version : '>= 2.26.0', required : get_option('gsettings'))
-if gio_dep.found()
+gio_dep = dependency('gio-2.0', version : '>= 2.26.0')
+if get_option('gsettings').enabled()
+  assert(gio_dep.found(), 'GSettings support needs glib I/O library (GIO)')
   cdata.set('HAVE_GSETTINGS', 1)
 endif
 
@@ -760,6 +761,7 @@ gstrtp_dep = dependency('gstreamer-rtp-1.0', required : get_option('gstreamer'))
 
 have_gstreamer = false
 if gst_dep.found() and gstapp_dep.found() and gstrtp_dep.found()
+  assert(gio_dep.found(), 'GStreamer-based RTP needs glib I/O library (GIO)')
   have_gstreamer = true
 endif
 
diff --git a/src/modules/meson.build b/src/modules/meson.build
index 9c498a4e1..e7db573b6 100644
--- a/src/modules/meson.build
+++ b/src/modules/meson.build
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ if dbus_dep.found() and fftw_dep.found()
   ]
 endif
 
-if gio_dep.found()
+if get_option('gsettings').enabled() and gio_dep.found()
   subdir('gsettings')
   all_modules += [
     [ 'module-gsettings',