diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9697e7331..962860887 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 project('pipewire', ['c' ],
   version : '0.3.33',
   license : [ 'MIT', 'LGPL-2.1-or-later', 'GPL-2.0-only' ],
-  meson_version : '>= 0.54.0',
+  meson_version : '>= 0.59.0',
   default_options : [ 'warning_level=3',
                       'c_std=gnu99',
                       'b_pie=true',
diff --git a/pipewire-jack/src/meson.build b/pipewire-jack/src/meson.build
index b669e20f1..4485dd23a 100644
--- a/pipewire-jack/src/meson.build
+++ b/pipewire-jack/src/meson.build
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ if get_option('jack-devel').enabled()
   description : 'PipeWire JACK API',
   version : '1.9.17',
   extra_cflags : '-D_REENTRANT',
-  variables: ['server_libs=-L${libdir} -ljackserver'])
+  unescaped_variables: ['server_libs=-L${libdir} -ljackserver'])
 endif
 
 if sdl_dep.found()