diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
index 72c1b347f3..1aa43e1f55 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ if pythonver.version_compare('<3.7')
 endif
 
 
-python_dep = python.dependency(embed: true, required: true)
+python_embed_dep = python.dependency(embed: true, required: true)
+python_dep = python.dependency(embed: false, required: true)
 
 python_abi_flags = python.get_variable('ABIFLAGS', '')
 message(f'python_abi_flags = @python_abi_flags@')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/plugin/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-python/plugin/meson.build
index 33d0095632..d14fb026f7 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/plugin/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/plugin/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 gstpython = library('gstpython',
     ['gstpythonplugin.c'],
     include_directories : [configinc],
-    dependencies : [gst_dep, pygobject_dep, gstbase_dep, python_dep, gmodule_dep, libdl],
+    dependencies : [gst_dep, pygobject_dep, gstbase_dep, python_embed_dep, gmodule_dep, libdl],
     install : true,
     install_dir : '@0@/gstreamer-1.0'.format(get_option('libdir')),
 )