diff --git a/control/meson.build b/control/meson.build
index e5a6231..447f29f 100644
--- a/control/meson.build
+++ b/control/meson.build
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
     phosphor_dbus_interfaces_dep,
     phosphor_logging_dep,
     sdbusplus_dep,
-    sdeventplus_dep
+    sdeventplus_dep,
+    cereal_dep,
 ]
 
 sources = ['main.cpp']
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 423fee3..6ddc52e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 cli11_dep = dependency('cli11', required: false)
 
-if not meson.get_compiler('cpp').has_header_symbol(
+if not cpp.has_header_symbol(
     'CLI/CLI.hpp',
     'CLI::App',
     dependencies: cli11_dep,
@@ -29,6 +29,23 @@
     cli11_dep = cli11_proj.get_variable('CLI11_dep')
 endif
 
+cereal_dep = dependency('cereal', required: false)
+has_cereal = cpp.has_header_symbol(
+    'cereal/cereal.hpp',
+    'cereal::specialize',
+    dependencies: cereal_dep,
+    required: false)
+if not has_cereal
+    cereal_opts = import('cmake').subproject_options()
+    cereal_opts.add_cmake_defines({'BUILD_TESTS': 'OFF'})
+    cereal_proj = import('cmake').subproject(
+        'cereal',
+        options: cereal_opts,
+        required: false)
+    assert(cereal_proj.found(), 'cereal is required')
+    cereal_dep = cereal_proj.dependency('cereal')
+endif
+
 fmt_dep = dependency('fmt')
 json_dep = declare_dependency()
 
diff --git a/sensor-monitor/meson.build b/sensor-monitor/meson.build
index 64f8b16..adaa653 100644
--- a/sensor-monitor/meson.build
+++ b/sensor-monitor/meson.build
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 deps=[
     phosphor_dbus_interfaces_dep,
     phosphor_logging_dep,
-    sdeventplus_dep
+    sdeventplus_dep,
+    cereal_dep,
 ]
 
 phosphor_fan_sensor_monitor = executable(
diff --git a/subprojects/cereal.wrap b/subprojects/cereal.wrap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11c1d8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/subprojects/cereal.wrap
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[wrap-git]
+url = https://github.com/USCiLab/cereal.git
+revision = HEAD