diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ee3afa765..b08ee1539 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ if openssl_dep.found()
   cdata.set('HAVE_OPENSSL', 1)
 endif
 
-speex_dep = dependency('speexdsp', version : '>= 1.2', required : false)
+speex_dep = dependency('speexdsp', version : '>= 1.2', required : get_option('speex'))
 if speex_dep.found()
   cdata.set('HAVE_SPEEX', 1)
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index f2adb993d..ce90355de 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ option('lirc',
 option('openssl',
        type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description : 'Optional OpenSSL support (used for Airtunes/RAOP)')
+option('speex',
+       type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
+       description : 'Optional Speex support (resampling, AEC)')
 option('systemd',
        type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description : 'Optional systemd support')