diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8e52164a7..c32fe2a28 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ if jack_dep.found()
   cdata.set('HAVE_JACK', 1)
 endif
 
-lirc_dep = dependency('lirc', required : false)
+lirc_dep = dependency('lirc', required : get_option('lirc'))
 if lirc_dep.found()
   cdata.set('HAVE_LIRC', 1)
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 9abf1352b..5f308b949 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ option('fftw',
 option('jack',
        type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description : 'Optional JACK support')
+option('lirc',
+       type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
+       description : 'Optional LIRC support')
 option('systemd',
        type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description : 'Optional systemd support')