diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ae9962f..b03d995 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -31,8 +31,21 @@
     ]
 )
 
+fmt_dep = dependency('fmt', required: false)
+if not fmt_dep.found()
+  fmt_proj = import('cmake').subproject(
+    'fmt',
+    cmake_options: [
+      '-DCMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE=ON',
+      '-DMASTER_PROJECT=OFF'
+    ],
+    required: false)
+  assert(fmt_proj.found(), 'fmtlib is required')
+  fmt_dep = fmt_proj.dependency('fmt')
+endif
+
 deps = [
-    systemd, sdbusplus, phosphorlogging
+    systemd, sdbusplus, phosphorlogging, fmt_dep
 ]
 
 realpath_prog = find_program('realpath')