diff --git a/test/meson.build b/test/meson.build
index e8683d3..06b293f 100644
--- a/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-gtest = dependency('gtest', main: true, disabler: true, required: build_tests)
+gtest = dependency('gtest', main: true, disabler: true, required: false)
+if not gtest.found() and build_tests.enabled()
+    cmake = import('cmake')
+    gtest_subproject = cmake.subproject('gtest')
+    cm_gtest = gtest_subproject.dependency('gtest')
+    cm_gtest_main = gtest_subproject.dependency('gtest_main')
+    gtest = declare_dependency(dependencies: [cm_gtest, cm_gtest_main, threads])
+endif
 
 test(
     'test_entity_manager',