diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5eef2227e0f..341d9ae5b43 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ elif cc.has_header_symbol('sys/mkdev.h', 'major')
 endif
 
 foreach h : ['xlocale.h', 'sys/sysctl.h', 'linux/futex.h', 'endian.h']
-  if cc.has_header(h)
+  if cc.compiles('#include <@0@>'.format(h), name : '@0@ works'.format(h))
     pre_args += '-DHAVE_@0@'.format(h.to_upper().underscorify())
   endif
 endforeach