diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 264d84c9e9..c8147c224f 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ endif
 
 gir = find_program('g-ir-scanner', required : get_option('introspection'))
 gnome = import('gnome')
-build_gir = gir.found() and not meson.is_cross_build()
+build_gir = gir.found() and (not meson.is_cross_build() or get_option('introspection').enabled())
 gir_init_section = [ '--add-init-section=extern void gst_init(gint*,gchar**);' + \
     'g_setenv("GST_REGISTRY_DISABLE", "yes", TRUE);' + \
     'g_setenv("GST_REGISTRY_1.0", "@0@", TRUE);'.format(meson.current_build_dir() + '/gir_empty_registry.reg') + \