diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c5a65cd33..c4fcd675b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -336,7 +336,8 @@ if freetype_dep.found()
     if not cc.links(files('meson-cc-tests/ft_has_color.c'), dependencies: freetype_dep, name: 'FT has color')
       conf.set('FT_HAS_COLOR', '(0)')
     endif
-    if cc.has_type('FT_SVG_Document', dependencies: freetype_dep, prefix: '#include <freetype/otsvg.h>')
+    if png_dep.found() and \
+        cc.has_type('FT_SVG_Document', dependencies: freetype_dep, prefix: '#include <freetype/otsvg.h>')
       conf.set('HAVE_FT_SVG_DOCUMENT', 1)
       if ttx.found()
         conf.set('CAIRO_CAN_TEST_TTX_FONT', 1)