diff --git a/tests/examples/codecparsers/meson.build b/tests/examples/codecparsers/meson.build
index f5c7dcc692..38aaed6190 100644
--- a/tests/examples/codecparsers/meson.build
+++ b/tests/examples/codecparsers/meson.build
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 executable('parse-jpeg', 'parse-jpeg.c',
   include_directories : [configinc],
   dependencies : [gstcodecparsers_dep, gst_dep],
-  c_args : gst_plugins_bad_args,
+  c_args : gst_plugins_bad_args + ['-DGST_USE_UNSTABLE_API'],
   install: false)
 
 executable('parse-vp8', 'parse-vp8.c',
   include_directories : [configinc],
   dependencies : [gstcodecparsers_dep, gst_dep],
-  c_args : gst_plugins_bad_args,
+  c_args : gst_plugins_bad_args + ['-DGST_USE_UNSTABLE_API'],
   install: false)