diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4e1cc60..a75d25e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 
 cxx = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
 
-build_tests = get_option('tests')
-
 libevdev = dependency('libevdev')
 libsystemd = dependency('libsystemd')
 libgpiod = dependency('libgpiod')
@@ -145,4 +143,8 @@
 )
 
 subdir('presence')
-subdir('test')
+
+build_tests = get_option('tests')
+if build_tests.allowed()
+    subdir('test')
+endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index b7869f4..dda6d81 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 option(
-    'tests', type: 'feature', description: 'Build tests.',
+    'tests', type: 'feature',
+    value: 'enabled',
+    description: 'Build tests.'
 )