diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 433bfaf8a..84a631f39 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -777,7 +777,8 @@ endif
 
 subdir('hw')
 
-if host_machine.system() != 'windows'
+build_tests = get_option('tests') and host_machine.system() != 'windows'
+if build_tests
     subdir('test')
 endif
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index ef49ffff8..4b30777ff 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ option('sha1', type: 'combo', choices: ['libc', 'CommonCrypto', 'CryptoAPI', 'li
        description: 'SHA1 implementation')
 option('xf86-input-inputtest', type: 'boolean', value: true,
        description: 'Test input driver support on Xorg')
+option('tests', type: 'boolean', value: true,
+       description: 'Build tests for the X server on platforms that support it')
 
 option('dri1', type: 'combo', choices: ['true', 'false', 'auto'], value: 'auto', description: 'Build DRI1 extension (default: auto)')
 option('dri2', type: 'combo', choices: ['true', 'false', 'auto'], value: 'auto', description: 'Build DRI2 extension (default: auto)')