diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 319818e0df..45a5c971a5 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ gstvideo_dep = dependency('gstreamer-video-' + apiversion, version : gst_req,
 gstbase_dep = dependency('gstreamer-base-1.0', version : gst_req,
     fallback : ['gstreamer', 'gst_base_dep'])
 gstcheck_dep = dependency('gstreamer-check-1.0', version : gst_req,
-  fallback : ['gstreamer', 'gst_check_dep'])
+  fallback : ['gstreamer', 'gst_check_dep'], required: false)
 gstcontroller_dep = dependency('gstreamer-controller-1.0', version : gst_req,
   fallback : ['gstreamer', 'gst_controller_dep'])
 gstvalidate_dep = dependency('gst-validate-1.0', version : gst_req, required : false,