diff --git a/example/meson.build b/example/meson.build
index 044d3a9..957c01d 100644
--- a/example/meson.build
+++ b/example/meson.build
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
     dependencies: sdbusplus_dep,
 )
 
+assert(
+    not get_option('examples').enabled() or boost_dep.found(),
+    'Boost is required when examples are enabled'
+)
+
 executable(
     'asio-example',
     'asio-example.cpp',
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index bbf43a7..6cacf8c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -40,8 +40,12 @@
     modules: [ 'coroutine', 'context' ],
 )
 
-subdir('example')
-subdir('test')
+if not get_option('examples').disabled()
+  subdir('example')
+endif
+if not get_option('tests').disabled()
+  subdir('test')
+endif
 
 install_subdir(
     'include/sdbusplus',
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4c22c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+option('tests', type: 'feature', description: 'Build tests')
+option('examples', type: 'feature', description: 'Build examples')
diff --git a/test/meson.build b/test/meson.build
index c33593a..1784e4c 100644
--- a/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-gtest_dep = dependency('gtest', main: true, disabler: true)
-gmock_dep = dependency('gmock', disabler: true)
+gtest_dep = dependency('gtest', main: true, disabler: true, required: get_option('tests'))
+gmock_dep = dependency('gmock', disabler: true, required: get_option('tests'))
 
 tests = [
     'bus/list_names',
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
     )
 endforeach
 
+assert(
+    not get_option('tests').enabled() or boost_dep.found(),
+    'Boost is required when tests are enabled'
+)
+
 test(
     'test-bus_aio',
     executable(