diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1e4a8b5b3e..9f35357b5b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -80,8 +80,6 @@ gnome = import('gnome')
 
 gtkdoc = find_program('gtkdoc-scan', required : false)
 
-vs_module_defs_dir = meson.current_source_dir() + '/win32/common/'
-
 subdir('validate')
 
 python3 = find_program('python3')
diff --git a/validate/meson.build b/validate/meson.build
index e6bdc559b6..9a21f14e98 100644
--- a/validate/meson.build
+++ b/validate/meson.build
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ cdata.set('PACKAGE_NAME', '"GStreamer Validate"')
 cdata.set('PACKAGE_VERSION', '"@0@"'.format(gst_version))
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : cdata)
 
+vs_module_defs_dir = meson.current_source_dir() + '/win32/common/'
+
 subdir('data')
 subdir('gst')
 subdir('launcher')