diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 173bff6..d11202e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@
     dependencies: [boost_dep, libsystemd_pkg, nlohmann_json_dep],
 )
 
+if meson.is_subproject()
+    sdbusplus_dep = sdbusplus_dep.as_system()
+endif
+
 should_generate_cpp = true
 should_generate_markdown = false
 should_generate_registry = false