diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 6be8347cc8..d861fdfe40 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ gst_version_micro = version_arr[2].to_int()
 else
   gst_version_nano = 0
 endif
+gst_version_is_dev = gst_version_minor % 2 == 1 and gst_version_micro < 90
 
 # FIXME: automagic
 have_cxx = add_languages('cpp', required : false)
@@ -61,6 +62,24 @@ if cc.has_argument('-fno-strict-aliasing')
   add_project_arguments('-fno-strict-aliasing', language: 'c')
 endif
 
+# Define G_DISABLE_DEPRECATED for development versions
+if gst_version_is_dev
+  message('Disabling deprecated GLib API')
+  add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED', language: 'c')
+endif
+
+cast_checks = get_option('gobject-cast-checks')
+if cast_checks.disabled() or (cast_checks.auto() and not gst_version_is_dev)
+  message('Disabling GLib cast checks')
+  add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS', language: 'c')
+endif
+
+glib_asserts = get_option('glib-asserts')
+if glib_asserts.disabled() or (glib_asserts.auto() and not gst_version_is_dev)
+  message('Disabling GLib asserts')
+  add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_ASSERT', language: 'c')
+endif
+
 cdata = configuration_data()
 
 check_headers = [
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 0d7a4bb984..460a13a9a3 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ option('examples', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true)
 option('tests', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true)
 option('nls', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield: true, description : 'Enable native language support (translations)')
 option('orc', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true)
+option('gobject-cast-checks', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', yield : true,
+       description: 'Enable run-time GObject cast checks (auto = enabled for development, disabled for stable releases')
+option('glib-asserts', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled', yield : true,
+       description: 'Enable GLib assertion (auto = enabled for development, disabled for stable releases')
 
 # Common options
 option('package-name', type : 'string', yield : true,