diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 6c1868bd9e..f322ed0f6f 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -280,9 +280,13 @@ subdir('gst')
 subdir('sys')
 subdir('ext')
 subdir('tests')
-subdir('po')
 subdir('pkgconfig')
 
+# xgettext is optional (on Windows for instance)
+if find_program('xgettext', required : false).found()
+  subdir('po')
+endif
+
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : cdata)
 
 python3 = import('python3').find_python()