diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5b361d637f..ed5033acd8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -14,4 +14,6 @@ project(
 )
 
 subdir('src/catch2')
-subdir('tests')
+if get_option('tests')
+  subdir('tests')
+endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7690487358
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+option('tests', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Build the unit tests')