diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9134abff02..17157ab4a9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@ if gst_libav.length() == 0
 endif
 
 if get_option('python')
+  if dependency('pygobject-3.0', required : false).found()
     subprojects += ['gst-python']
+  else
+    message('WARNING: not building gst-python module, missing pygobject-3.0')
+  endif
 endif
 
 if get_option('bad')