diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b5c4fa166e..9500d85d86 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -621,14 +621,16 @@ subdir('gdk')
 subdir('gsk')
 subdir('gtk')
 subdir('modules')
-if get_option('demos')
-  subdir('demos')
-  subdir('examples')
-endif
 if get_option('build-tests')
   subdir('tests')
   subdir('testsuite')
 endif
+if get_option('demos')
+  subdir('demos')
+endif
+if get_option('build-examples')
+  subdir('examples')
+endif
 
 # config.h
 configure_file(input: 'config.h.meson',
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 1d9752f7ab..6e795b0883 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ option('introspection', type: 'boolean', value: 'true',
 
 # Demos and binaries
 option('demos', type: 'boolean', value: 'true',
-  description : 'Build demos and example programs')
+  description : 'Build demo programs')
+option('build-examples', type: 'boolean', value: 'true',
+  description : 'Build examples')
 option('build-tests', type: 'boolean', value: 'true',
   description : 'Build tests')
 option('install-tests', type: 'boolean', value: 'false',