diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/gl/meson.build b/gst-libs/gst/gl/meson.build
index 8a5a83fd17..58bcb3d29e 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/gl/meson.build
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/gl/meson.build
@@ -829,4 +829,6 @@ if build_gstgl
 
 elif get_option('gl').enabled()
   error('GStreamer OpenGL integration required via options, but needed dependencies not found.')
+else
+  gstgl_dep = dependency('', required : false)
 endif