diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index 2dd870dd30..32d0b59a02 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-gtest_proj = subproject('gtest')
-gtest_dep = gtest_proj.get_variable('gtest_dep')
-gmock_dep = gtest_proj.get_variable('gmock_dep')
+gtest_dep = dependency('gtest', required : false)
+gmock_dep = dependency('gmock', required : false)
+
+if not (gtest_dep.found() and gmock_dep.found())
+    gtest_proj = subproject('gtest')
+    gtest_dep = gtest_proj.get_variable('gtest_dep')
+    gmock_dep = gtest_proj.get_variable('gmock_dep')
+endif
 
 tests_deps = [
     gtest_dep,