diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
index 5ec92f6d08..f6e2491782 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
@@ -98,4 +98,6 @@ endif
 
 subdir('gi')
 subdir('plugin')
-subdir('testsuite')
+if not get_option('tests').disabled()
+  subdir('testsuite')
+endif
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/meson_options.txt b/subprojects/gst-python/meson_options.txt
index 7074b98222..110f0b9680 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/meson_options.txt
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/meson_options.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ option('pygi-overrides-dir', type : 'string', value : '',
 option('libpython-dir', type : 'string', value : '',
         description: 'Path to find libpythonXX.so')
 option('python', type : 'string', value : 'python3')
+option('tests', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true)