diff --git a/demos/gtk-demo/meson.build b/demos/gtk-demo/meson.build
index f594cd59b2..fa63dbbb9b 100644
--- a/demos/gtk-demo/meson.build
+++ b/demos/gtk-demo/meson.build
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ endif
 
 ld = find_program('ld', required : false)
 
-if build_machine.system() == 'linux' and objcopy.found() and objcopy_supports_add_symbol and ld.found()
+if not meson.is_cross_build() and build_machine.system() == 'linux' and objcopy.found() and objcopy_supports_add_symbol and ld.found()
   glib_compile_resources = find_program('glib-compile-resources')
 
   # Create the resource blob
diff --git a/demos/widget-factory/meson.build b/demos/widget-factory/meson.build
index 9a083eb1ac..2cfc9732dc 100644
--- a/demos/widget-factory/meson.build
+++ b/demos/widget-factory/meson.build
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ endif
 
 ld = find_program('ld', required : false)
 
-if build_machine.system() == 'linux' and objcopy.found() and objcopy_supports_add_symbol and ld.found()
+if not meson.is_cross_build() and build_machine.system() == 'linux' and objcopy.found() and objcopy_supports_add_symbol and ld.found()
   glib_compile_resources = find_program('glib-compile-resources')
 
   # Create the resource blob