diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srtp/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srtp/meson.build
index 0b16ab113a..49eed5b0e2 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srtp/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srtp/meson.build
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ srtp_sources = [
 
 srtp_cargs = []
 if get_option('srtp').disabled()
+  srtp_dep = dependency('', required : false)
   subdir_done()
 endif