diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d546c00b91..90678f8d50 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ gmodule_dep    = dependency('gmodule-2.0', version: glib_req,
                             fallback : ['glib', 'libgmodule_dep'])
 cairo_dep      = dependency('cairo', version: cairo_req,
                             fallback : ['cairo', 'libcairo_dep'],
-                            default_options: ['zlib=enabled'])
+                            default_options: ['zlib=enabled', 'tests=disabled'])
 cairogobj_dep  = dependency('cairo-gobject', version: cairo_req,
                             fallback : ['cairo', 'libcairogobject_dep'])
 pango_dep      = dependency('pango', version: pango_req,