diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a37c7c4e43..b248e016c8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -80,6 +80,12 @@ if glib_asserts.disabled() or (glib_asserts.auto() and not gst_version_is_dev)
   add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_ASSERT', language: 'c')
 endif
 
+glib_checks = get_option('glib-checks')
+if glib_checks.disabled() or (glib_checks.auto() and not gst_version_is_dev)
+  message('Disabling GLib checks')
+  add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_CHECKS', language: 'c')
+endif
+
 cdata = configuration_data()
 
 check_headers = [
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index b522ec24fc..44ef399092 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ option('gobject-cast-checks', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true,
        description: 'Enable run-time GObject cast checks (auto = enabled for development, disabled for stable releases)')
 option('glib-asserts', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled', yield : true,
        description: 'Enable GLib assertion (auto = enabled for development, disabled for stable releases)')
+option('glib-checks', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled', yield : true,
+       description: 'Enable GLib checks such as API guards (auto = enabled for development, disabled for stable releases)')
 
 # Common options
 option('package-name', type : 'string', yield : true,