diff --git a/tests/check/elements/parser.h b/tests/check/elements/parser.h
index d11c784bc9..2ea58e1f39 100644
--- a/tests/check/elements/parser.h
+++ b/tests/check/elements/parser.h
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ typedef GstElement* (*ElementSetup) (const gchar * desc);
 
 /* context state variables; to be set by test using this helper */
 /* mandatory */
-extern const gchar *ctx_factory;
-extern GstStaticPadTemplate *ctx_sink_template;
-extern GstStaticPadTemplate *ctx_src_template;
+GST_EXPORT const gchar *ctx_factory;
+GST_EXPORT GstStaticPadTemplate *ctx_sink_template;
+GST_EXPORT GstStaticPadTemplate *ctx_src_template;
 /* optional */
-extern GstCaps *ctx_input_caps;
-extern GstCaps *ctx_output_caps;
-extern guint ctx_discard;
-extern datablob ctx_headers[MAX_HEADERS];
-extern gboolean ctx_no_metadata;
+GST_EXPORT GstCaps *ctx_input_caps;
+GST_EXPORT GstCaps *ctx_output_caps;
+GST_EXPORT guint ctx_discard;
+GST_EXPORT datablob ctx_headers[MAX_HEADERS];
+GST_EXPORT gboolean ctx_no_metadata;
 
-extern VerifyBuffer ctx_verify_buffer;
-extern ElementSetup ctx_setup;
-extern gboolean ctx_frame_generated;
+GST_EXPORT VerifyBuffer ctx_verify_buffer;
+GST_EXPORT ElementSetup ctx_setup;
+GST_EXPORT gboolean ctx_frame_generated;
 
 /* no refs taken/kept, all up to caller */
 typedef struct
@@ -97,22 +97,31 @@ typedef struct
   gboolean              no_metadata;
 } GstParserTest;
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_init (GstParserTest * ptest, guint8 * data, guint size, guint num);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_run (GstParserTest * test, GstCaps ** out_caps);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_normal (guint8 *data, guint size);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_drain_single (guint8 *data, guint size);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_drain_garbage (guint8 *data, guint size, guint8 *garbage, guint gsize);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_split (guint8 *data, guint size);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_skip_garbage (guint8 *data, guint size, guint8 *garbage, guint gsize);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 void gst_parser_test_output_caps (guint8 *data, guint size, const gchar * input_caps,
                                   const gchar * output_caps);
 
+GST_EXPORT
 GstCaps *gst_parser_test_get_output_caps (guint8 *data, guint size, const gchar * input_caps);
 
diff --git a/tests/check/meson.build b/tests/check/meson.build
index 69d55de459..54f9f73ee7 100644
--- a/tests/check/meson.build
+++ b/tests/check/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 have_registry = true # FIXME not get_option('disable_registry')
 
-libparser = library('parser',
-  'elements/parser.c', 'elements/parser.h',
+libparser = static_library('parser',
+  'elements/parser.c',
   install : false,
   dependencies : [gst_dep, gstcheck_dep],
 )
@@ -32,20 +32,20 @@ base_tests = [
   [['elements/faad.c'], not faad_dep.found() or not have_faad_2_7, [faad_dep]],
   [['elements/gdpdepay.c']],
   [['elements/gdppay.c']],
-  [['elements/h263parse.c']],
-  [['elements/h264parse.c']],
+  [['elements/h263parse.c'], false, [libparser_dep]],
+  [['elements/h264parse.c'], false, [libparser_dep]],
   [['elements/id3mux.c']],
   [['elements/jifmux.c'], not exif_dep.found(), [exif_dep]],
   [['elements/jpegparse.c']],
   [['elements/kate.c'], not kate_dep.found(), [kate_dep]],
-  [['elements/mpeg4videoparse.c']],
+  [['elements/mpeg4videoparse.c'], false, [libparser_dep]],
   [['elements/mpegtsmux.c']],
-  [['elements/mpegvideoparse.c']],
+  [['elements/mpegvideoparse.c'], false, [libparser_dep]],
   [['elements/mssdemux.c', 'elements/test_http_src.c', 'elements/adaptive_demux_engine.c', 'elements/adaptive_demux_common.c'], not xml28_dep.found(), [xml28_dep]],
   [['elements/mxfdemux.c']],
   [['elements/mxfmux.c']],
   [['elements/netsim.c']],
-  [['elements/pcapparse.c']],
+  [['elements/pcapparse.c'], false, [libparser_dep]],
   [['elements/pnm.c']],
   [['elements/schroenc.c'], not schro_dep.found(), [schro_dep]],
   [['elements/shm.c'], not shm_enabled, shm_deps],
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ test_deps = [gst_dep, gstapp_dep, gstbase_dep,
              gstbasecamerabin_dep, gstphotography_dep,
              gstpbutils_dep, gstcontroller_dep, gstaudio_dep,
              gstvideo_dep, gstrtp_dep, gsturidownloader_dep,
-             gstcheck_dep, gio_dep, glib_dep, libparser_dep,
-             gsttag_dep]
+             gstcheck_dep, gio_dep, glib_dep, gsttag_dep]
 
 pluginsdirs = [  ]