diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 6f137b0d20..cc7fc0e034 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ option('libunwind', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Use libunwi
 option('libdw', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Use libdw to generate better backtraces from libunwind')
 option('dbghelp', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Use dbghelp to generate backtraces')
 option('bash-completion', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Install bash completion files')
+option('coretracers', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Build coretracers plugin')
 
 # Common feature options
 option('examples', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true)
diff --git a/plugins/meson.build b/plugins/meson.build
index 186f041a6b..ddb3a6e887 100644
--- a/plugins/meson.build
+++ b/plugins/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 plugins = []
 subdir('elements')
-if tracer_hooks
+if not get_option('coretracers').disabled()
   subdir('tracers')
 endif
diff --git a/plugins/tracers/meson.build b/plugins/tracers/meson.build
index 9d75ada64a..be9fc136dc 100644
--- a/plugins/tracers/meson.build
+++ b/plugins/tracers/meson.build
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+if not tracer_hooks
+  if get_option('coretracers').enabled()
+    error('coretracers plugin enabled but not tracer_hooks')
+  endif
+  subdir_done()
+endif
+
 gst_tracers_sources = [
   'gstlatency.c',
   'gstleaks.c',