diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ef22d2b583..387e46f4ef 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -434,9 +434,13 @@ subdir('plugins')
 subdir('tools')
 subdir('pkgconfig')
 subdir('tests')
-subdir('po')
 subdir('data')
 
+# xgettext is optional (on Windows for instance)
+if find_program('xgettext', required : false).found()
+  subdir('po')
+endif
+
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : cdata)
 
 if build_machine.system() == 'windows'