diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b96658d..f1a65a8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@
     install_dir: get_option('bindir')
 )
 
-build_tests = get_option('tests')
-if not build_tests.disabled()
+if get_option('tests').allowed()
   subdir('test')
 endif
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index f862dfd..d626a88 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 option(
     'tests', type : 'feature',
+    value: 'enabled',
     description : 'Build tests'
 )