diff --git a/libnm/meson.build b/libnm/meson.build
index ea1445f906..d40ef91173 100644
--- a/libnm/meson.build
+++ b/libnm/meson.build
@@ -2,13 +2,7 @@ libnm_inc = include_directories('.')
 
 sources = files('nm-libnm-utils.c')
 
-if have_fake_typelibs
-  subdir('fake-typelib')
-endif
-
 deps = [
-  # FIXME: this makes GIR mandatory?
-  gir_dep,
   libnmdbus_dep,
   shared_dep
 ]
@@ -19,6 +13,11 @@ cflags = [
   '-DNMRUNDIR="@0@"'.format(nm_pkgrundir)
 ]
 
+if have_fake_typelibs
+  deps += [ gir_dep ]
+  subdir('fake-typelib')
+endif
+
 libnm_utils = static_library(
   'nm-utils',
   sources: sources,