diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index f37c388..c90a991 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ appdata = i18n.merge_file('appdata',
   po_dir: podir,
 )
 
-desktop_file_validate = find_program('desktop-file-validate', required: false, native: true)
+desktop_file_validate = find_program('desktop-file-validate', required: get_option('tests'), native: true)
 if desktop_file_validate.found()
   test('validate-desktop',
     desktop_file_validate,
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ if desktop_file_validate.found()
   )
 endif
 
-appstream_util = find_program('appstream-util', required: false, native: true)
+appstream_util = find_program('appstream-util', required: get_option('tests'), native: true)
 if appstream_util.found()
   test('validate-appdata',
     appstream_util,
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 4e59f2f..667fbcf 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -23,3 +23,8 @@ option('manpages',
   value: 'auto',
   description: 'manual pages'
 )
+option('tests',
+  type: 'feature',
+  value: 'auto',
+  description: 'run tests'
+)
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index 9e752f4..c99a5ab 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-check = dependency('check', required: false)
+check = dependency('check', required: get_option('tests'))
 if check.found()
   test_dependencies = [
     declare_dependency(link_with: libzathura),