diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9c2142d166..ab30f90098 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -376,8 +376,7 @@ pixbuf_dep     = dependency('gdk-pixbuf-2.0', version: gdk_pixbuf_req,
 epoxy_dep      = dependency('epoxy', version: epoxy_req,
                             fallback: ['libepoxy', 'libepoxy_dep'])
 atk_dep        = dependency('atk', version: atk_req)
-harfbuzz_dep   = dependency('harfbuzz', version: '>= 0.9', required: false,
-                            fallback: ['harfbuzz', 'libharfbuzz_dep'])
+harfbuzz_dep   = dependency('harfbuzz', version: '>= 0.9', required: false)
 xkbdep         = dependency('xkbcommon', version: xkbcommon_req, required: wayland_enabled)
 graphene_dep   = dependency('graphene-gobject-1.0', version: graphene_req,
                             fallback: ['graphene', 'graphene_dep'])
@@ -460,6 +459,11 @@ if cc.get_id() == 'msvc'
   endif
 endif
 
+if not harfbuzz_dep.found()
+  harfbuzz_dep = dependency('harfbuzz', version: '>= 0.9', required: false,
+                            fallback: ['harfbuzz', 'libharfbuzz_dep'])
+endif
+
 cdata.set('HAVE_HARFBUZZ', harfbuzz_dep.found())
 cdata.set('HAVE_PANGOFT', pangoft_dep.found())