diff --git a/.builds/freebsd.yml b/.builds/freebsd.yml
index a99e9c911..d9b465c1d 100644
--- a/.builds/freebsd.yml
+++ b/.builds/freebsd.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ sources:
 tasks:
   - wlroots: |
       cd wlroots
+      meson subprojects download wayland-protocols
       meson setup build --fatal-meson-warnings -Dauto_features=enabled -Dallocators=gbm
       ninja -C build
       sudo ninja -C build install