diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ab28029..592a89d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ build_stable:
     - dnf upgrade -y --nogpgcheck fedora-release fedora-repos*
     - dnf update -y && dnf install -y $DEPENDENCIES
   script:
-    - meson -Dgtk_doc=true _build
+    - meson -Dgtk_doc=true -Dpylint=true _build
     - ninja -v -C _build
     - ninja -v -C _build install
     - ninja -v -C _build uninstall
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 70ab243..4ae43c0 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -42,8 +42,10 @@ gnome = import('gnome')
 add_global_arguments('-D_GNU_SOURCE=1', language: 'c')
 add_global_arguments(common_cflags, language: 'c')
 
-pylint = find_program('pylint-3', 'pylint3', 'pylint', required: false)
-pylint_flags = ['-d', 'C0116', '-d', 'C0114', '-d', 'W0707']
+if get_option('pylint')
+    pylint = find_program('pylint-3', 'pylint3', 'pylint', required: true)
+    pylint_flags = ['-d', 'C0116', '-d', 'C0114', '-d', 'W0707']
+endif
 xmllint = find_program('xmllint', required: false)
 
 subdir('src')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index a3789f6..7e89619 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@ option('gtk_doc',
        type: 'boolean',
        value: false,
        description: 'Build docs')
+option('pylint',
+       type: 'boolean',
+       value: false,
+       description: 'Run pylint checks, for developers only')
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 0c00564..f20e42a 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ script = configure_file(
   install_dir: get_option('bindir')
 )
 
-if pylint.found()
+if get_option('pylint')
   test('pylint-powerprofilesctl',
        pylint,
        args: pylint_flags + [ script ],