diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index afb4f94a72..6a8a403052 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -418,7 +418,6 @@ build fedora clang:
       -Dgst-plugins-base:pango=enabled
       -Dgst-plugins-good:cairo=enabled
       -Dgst-plugins-good:soup=enabled
-      -Dgst-plugins-good:soup-lookup-dep=true
       -Dgst-plugins-bad:d3d11-wgc=enabled
   rules:
     - !reference [.upstream-branch-rules, rules]
@@ -513,7 +512,6 @@ build vs2022 arm64:
     MESON_CROSS_ARGS: >-
       -Dgst-plugins-base:pango=disabled
       -Dgst-plugins-good:cairo=disabled
-      -Dgst-plugins-good:soup-lookup-dep=false
       -Dgst-devtools:cairo=disabled
       -Dpython=disabled
       -Dintrospection=disabled
@@ -565,7 +563,6 @@ build macos:
           -Dgst-plugins-base:pango=enabled
           -Dgst-plugins-good:cairo=enabled
           -Dgst-plugins-good:soup=enabled
-          -Dgst-plugins-good:soup-lookup-dep=true
 
 # ---- Tests ----- #
 
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/gstadaptivedemuxelement.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/gstadaptivedemuxelement.c
index 1d8f53769c..79f9800809 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/gstadaptivedemuxelement.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/gstadaptivedemuxelement.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ adaptivedemux2_base_element_init (GstPlugin * plugin)
         "adaptivedemux2");
     g_once_init_leave (&res, TRUE);
   }
-#ifndef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifndef LINK_SOUP
   if (!gst_soup_load_library ()) {
     GST_WARNING ("Failed to load libsoup library");
     return FALSE;
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/meson.build
index 6f4564deb0..ad83a09166 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/adaptivedemux2/meson.build
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ hls_dep = dependency('', required : false)
 adaptivedemux2_dep = dependency('', required : false)
 
 adaptivedemux2_opt = get_option('adaptivedemux2')
+soup_ver_opt = get_option('soup-version')
 if adaptivedemux2_opt.disabled()
   message('Not building adaptivedemux2 plugin because it was disabled')
   subdir_done()
@@ -74,60 +75,71 @@ plugin_sources += dash_sources
 plugin_sources += smoothstreaming_sources
 plugin_sources += hls_sources
 
+libdl = cc.find_library('dl', required: false)
 soup_loader_args = ['-DBUILDING_ADAPTIVEDEMUX2']
+soup_link_args = []
+soup_link_deps = []
 
 default_library = get_option('default_library')
-if default_library in ['static', 'both']
-  libsoup2_dep = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>=2.48',
-                            required : false, fallback : ['libsoup', 'libsoup_dep'],
-                            default_options: ['sysprof=disabled'])
-  libsoup3_dep = dependency('libsoup-3.0', required : false,
-                            fallback : ['libsoup3', 'libsoup_dep'])
-
-  if libsoup3_dep.found()
-    soup_dep = libsoup3_dep
-    static_soup_loader_args = ['-DSTATIC_SOUP=3']
-  elif libsoup2_dep.found()
-    soup_dep = libsoup2_dep
-    static_soup_loader_args = ['-DSTATIC_SOUP=2']
-  else
-    if adaptivedemux2_opt.enabled()
-      error(f'adaptivedemux2: Either libsoup2 or libsoup3 is needed for build with default_library=@default_library@')
-    endif
-
-    message(f'Not building adaptivedemux2 plugin: either libsoup2 or libsoup3 is needed for build with default_library=@default_library@')
-    subdir_done()
+if host_system != 'linux' or default_library in ['static', 'both']
+  if soup_ver_opt in ['auto', '3']
+    libsoup3_dep = dependency('libsoup-3.0', allow_fallback: true,
+                              required: soup_ver_opt == '3' and soup_opt.enabled())
+  endif
+  if soup_ver_opt in ['auto', '2']
+    libsoup2_dep = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>=2.48', allow_fallback: true,
+                              default_options: ['sysprof=disabled'],
+                              required: soup_ver_opt == '2' and soup_opt.enabled())
   endif
 
-  # Static plugin links to libsoup directly at build time
-  adaptivedemux2_static = static_library('gstadaptivedemux2',
-    plugin_sources,
-    include_directories: [configinc, libsinc],
-    c_args: [gst_plugins_good_args, soup_loader_args, soup_loader_args, hls_cargs,
-             '-DGST_ISOFF_API=G_GNUC_INTERNAL'],
-    dependencies: [gst_dep, gsttag_dep, gstnet_dep, gstbase_dep,
-                   gstpbutils_dep, gstapp_dep, soup_dep,
-                   gio_dep, adaptive_xml2_dep,
-                   hls_crypto_dep, libm],
-    install: true,
-    install_dir: plugins_install_dir)
+  if libsoup3_dep.found()
+    soup_link_deps += [libsoup3_dep]
+    soup_link_args = ['-DLINK_SOUP=3']
+  elif libsoup2_dep.found()
+    soup_link_deps += [libsoup2_dep]
+    soup_link_args = ['-DLINK_SOUP=2']
+  else
+    if adaptivedemux2_opt.enabled()
+      error(f'adaptivedemux2: Either libsoup2 or libsoup3 is needed')
+    endif
+    message(f'Not building adaptivedemux2 plugin: either libsoup2 or libsoup3 is needed')
+    subdir_done()
+  endif
 endif
 
-if default_library in ['shared', 'both']
-  # Shared plugin doesn't link to libsoup but dlopen()s it at runtime
-  libdl = cc.find_library('dl', required: false)
+# Shared plugin doesn't link to libsoup but dlopen()s it at runtime
+adaptive_kwargs = {
+  'sources': plugin_sources,
+  'include_directories': [configinc, libsinc],
+  'install': true,
+  'install_dir': plugins_install_dir,
+}
+adaptive_deps = [gmodule_dep, gst_dep, gsttag_dep, gstnet_dep, gstbase_dep, gstpbutils_dep,
+    gstapp_dep, gio_dep, adaptive_xml2_dep, hls_crypto_dep, libdl, libm]
+adaptive_args = [gst_plugins_good_args, soup_loader_args, hls_cargs,
+    '-DGST_ISOFF_API=G_GNUC_INTERNAL']
 
-  adaptivedemux2_shared = shared_library('gstadaptivedemux2',
-    plugin_sources,
-    include_directories: [configinc, libsinc],
-    c_args: [gst_plugins_good_args, soup_loader_args, hls_cargs,
-             '-DGST_ISOFF_API=G_GNUC_INTERNAL'],
-    dependencies: [gsttag_dep, gstnet_dep, gstbase_dep,
-                   gstpbutils_dep, gstapp_dep, gio_dep,
-                   gmodule_dep, adaptive_xml2_dep,
-                   hls_crypto_dep, libm, libdl],
-    install: true,
-    install_dir: plugins_install_dir)
+if host_system != 'linux'
+    adaptivedemux2 = library('gstadaptivedemux2',
+      c_args: [adaptive_args, soup_link_args],
+      dependencies: [adaptive_deps, soup_link_deps],
+      kwargs: adaptive_kwargs)
+    adaptivedemux2_static = adaptivedemux2
+    adaptivedemux2_shared = adaptivedemux2
+else
+  if default_library in ['static', 'both']
+    # Static plugin links to libsoup directly at build time
+    adaptivedemux2_static = static_library('gstadaptivedemux2',
+      c_args: [adaptive_args, soup_link_args],
+      dependencies: [adaptive_deps, soup_link_deps],
+      kwargs: adaptive_kwargs)
+  endif
+  if default_library in ['shared', 'both']
+    adaptivedemux2_shared = shared_library('gstadaptivedemux2',
+      c_args: adaptive_args,
+      dependencies: adaptive_deps,
+      kwargs: adaptive_kwargs)
+  endif
 endif
 
 # Use the static library to generate the .pc file if it's available. The shared
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsoupelement.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsoupelement.c
index bd1ad3501b..d99caf9089 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsoupelement.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsoupelement.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ soup_element_init (GstPlugin * plugin)
 
     g_once_init_leave (&res, TRUE);
   }
-#ifndef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifndef LINK_SOUP
   if (!gst_soup_load_library ()) {
     GST_WARNING ("Failed to load libsoup library");
     return FALSE;
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouphttpsrc.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouphttpsrc.c
index 04cb70e360..6ead6da49f 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouphttpsrc.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouphttpsrc.c
@@ -1049,11 +1049,11 @@ thread_func (gpointer user_data)
           NULL);
       g_object_unref (proxy_resolver);
     }
-#if !defined(STATIC_SOUP) || STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#if !defined(LINK_SOUP) || LINK_SOUP == 2
   } else {
     g_object_set (session->session, "ssl-strict", src->ssl_strict, NULL);
     if (src->proxy != NULL) {
-      /* Need #if because there's no proxy->soup_uri when STATIC_SOUP == 3 */
+      /* Need #if because there's no proxy->soup_uri when LINK_SOUP == 3 */
       g_object_set (session->session, "proxy-uri", src->proxy->soup_uri, NULL);
     }
 #endif
@@ -1655,7 +1655,7 @@ gst_soup_http_src_parse_status (SoupMessage * msg, GstSoupHTTPSrc * src)
   }
 
   /* SOUP_STATUS_IS_TRANSPORT_ERROR was replaced with GError in libsoup-3.0 */
-#if !defined(STATIC_SOUP) || STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#if !defined(LINK_SOUP) || LINK_SOUP == 2
   if (SOUP_STATUS_IS_TRANSPORT_ERROR (status_code)) {
     switch (status_code) {
       case SOUP_STATUS_CANT_RESOLVE:
@@ -1816,7 +1816,7 @@ gst_soup_http_src_build_message (GstSoupHTTPSrc * src, const gchar * method)
     /* SOUP_MESSAGE_OVERWRITE_CHUNKS is gone in libsoup-3.0, and
      * soup_message_body_set_accumulate() requires SoupMessageBody, which
      * can only be fetched from SoupServerMessage, not SoupMessage */
-#if !defined(STATIC_SOUP) || STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#if !defined(LINK_SOUP) || LINK_SOUP == 2
     if (gst_soup_loader_get_api_version () == 2)
       flags |= SOUP_MESSAGE_OVERWRITE_CHUNKS;
 #endif
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.c
index 840c2e7dd7..9192e4dac5 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.c
@@ -23,13 +23,6 @@
 #include <dlfcn.h>
 #endif
 
-#ifdef G_OS_WIN32
-#include <windows.h>
-#if WINAPI_FAMILY_PARTITION(WINAPI_PARTITION_APP) && !WINAPI_FAMILY_PARTITION(WINAPI_PARTITION_DESKTOP)
-#define GST_WINAPI_ONLY_APP
-#endif
-#endif /* G_OS_WIN32 */
-
 #ifdef BUILDING_ADAPTIVEDEMUX2
 GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY (gst_adaptivedemux_soup_debug);
 #define GST_CAT_DEFAULT gst_adaptivedemux_soup_debug
@@ -39,17 +32,14 @@ GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY (gst_soup_debug);
 #endif
 
 
-#ifndef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifndef LINK_SOUP
 
-/* G_OS_WIN32 is handled separately below */
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-#define LIBSOUP_3_SONAME "libsoup-3.0.0.dylib"
-#define LIBSOUP_2_SONAME "libsoup-2.4.1.dylib"
-#else
-#define LIBSOUP_3_SONAME "libsoup-3.0.so.0"
-#define LIBSOUP_2_SONAME "libsoup-2.4.so.1"
+#if defined(__APPLE__) || defined(G_OS_WIN32)
+#error "dlopen of libsoup is only supported on Linux"
 #endif
 
+#define LIBSOUP_3_SONAME "libsoup-3.0.so.0"
+#define LIBSOUP_2_SONAME "libsoup-2.4.so.1"
 
 #define LOAD_SYMBOL(name) G_STMT_START {                                \
     if (!g_module_symbol (module, G_STRINGIFY (name), (gpointer *) &G_PASTE (vtable->_, name))) { \
@@ -187,52 +177,9 @@ gst_soup_load_library (void)
 
     g_clear_pointer (&handle, dlclose);
   }
-#else /* !HAVE_RTLD_NOLOAD */
-
-#ifdef G_OS_WIN32
-
-#define LIBSOUP2_MSVC_DLL "soup-2.4-1.dll"
-#define LIBSOUP3_MSVC_DLL "soup-3.0-0.dll"
-#define LIBSOUP2_MINGW_DLL "libsoup-2.4-1.dll"
-#define LIBSOUP3_MINGW_DLL "libsoup-3.0-0.dll"
-
-  {
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
-    const char *candidates[5] = { LIBSOUP3_MSVC_DLL, LIBSOUP2_MSVC_DLL,
-      LIBSOUP3_MINGW_DLL, LIBSOUP2_MINGW_DLL, 0
-    };
 #else
-    const char *candidates[5] = { LIBSOUP3_MINGW_DLL, LIBSOUP2_MINGW_DLL,
-      LIBSOUP3_MSVC_DLL, LIBSOUP2_MSVC_DLL, 0
-    };
-#endif /* _MSC_VER */
-
-    guint len = g_strv_length ((gchar **) candidates);
-#if !GST_WINAPI_ONLY_APP
-    for (guint i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-      HMODULE phModule;
-      BOOL loaded =
-          GetModuleHandleExA (GET_MODULE_HANDLE_EX_FLAG_UNCHANGED_REFCOUNT,
-          candidates[i], &phModule);
-      if (loaded) {
-        GST_DEBUG ("%s is resident. Using it.", candidates[i]);
-        libsoup_sonames[0] = candidates[i];
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-#endif
-    if (libsoup_sonames[0] == NULL) {
-      GST_DEBUG ("No resident libsoup, trying them all");
-      for (guint i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        libsoup_sonames[i] = candidates[i];
-      }
-    }
-  }
-#else /* !G_OS_WIN32 */
   libsoup_sonames[0] = LIBSOUP_3_SONAME;
   libsoup_sonames[1] = LIBSOUP_2_SONAME;
-#endif /* G_OS_WIN32 */
-
 #endif /* HAVE_RTLD_NOLOAD */
 
   vtable = &gst_soup_vtable;
@@ -317,13 +264,13 @@ gst_soup_load_library (void)
   return vtable->loaded;
 }
 
-#endif /* !STATIC_SOUP */
+#endif /* !LINK_SOUP */
 
 guint
 gst_soup_loader_get_api_version (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-  return STATIC_SOUP;
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+  return LINK_SOUP;
 #else
   return gst_soup_vtable.lib_version;
 #endif
@@ -346,10 +293,10 @@ _soup_session_new_with_options (const char *optname1, ...)
 SoupLogger *
 _soup_logger_new (SoupLoggerLogLevel level)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return soup_logger_new (level, -1);
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_logger_new (level);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -366,7 +313,7 @@ void
 _soup_logger_set_printer (SoupLogger * logger, SoupLoggerPrinter printer,
     gpointer printer_data, GDestroyNotify destroy)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_logger_set_printer (logger, printer, printer_data, destroy);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_logger_set_printer != NULL);
@@ -378,7 +325,7 @@ _soup_logger_set_printer (SoupLogger * logger, SoupLoggerPrinter printer,
 void
 _soup_session_add_feature (SoupSession * session, SoupSessionFeature * feature)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_session_add_feature (session, feature);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_add_feature != NULL);
@@ -390,8 +337,8 @@ GstSoupUri *
 gst_soup_uri_new (const char *uri_string)
 {
   GstSoupUri *uri = g_new0 (GstSoupUri, 1);
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   uri->soup_uri = soup_uri_new (uri_string);
 #else
   uri->uri = g_uri_parse (uri_string, SOUP_HTTP_URI_FLAGS, NULL);
@@ -412,48 +359,48 @@ gst_soup_uri_new (const char *uri_string)
 void
 gst_soup_uri_free (GstSoupUri * uri)
 {
-#if (defined(STATIC_SOUP) && STATIC_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(STATIC_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
+#if (defined(LINK_SOUP) && LINK_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(LINK_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
   if (uri->uri) {
     g_uri_unref (uri->uri);
   }
 #endif
 
-#if defined(STATIC_SOUP)
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#if defined(LINK_SOUP)
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   if (uri->soup_uri) {
     soup_uri_free (uri->soup_uri);
   }
 #endif
-#else /* !STATIC_SOUP */
+#else /* !LINK_SOUP */
   if (uri->soup_uri) {
     g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_uri_free_2 != NULL);
     gst_soup_vtable._soup_uri_free_2 (uri->soup_uri);
   }
-#endif /* STATIC_SOUP */
+#endif /* LINK_SOUP */
   g_free (uri);
 }
 
 char *
 gst_soup_uri_to_string (GstSoupUri * uri)
 {
-#if (defined(STATIC_SOUP) && STATIC_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(STATIC_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
+#if (defined(LINK_SOUP) && LINK_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(LINK_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
   if (uri->uri) {
     return g_uri_to_string_partial (uri->uri, G_URI_HIDE_PASSWORD);
   }
 #endif
 
-#if defined(STATIC_SOUP)
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#if defined(LINK_SOUP)
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   if (uri->soup_uri) {
     return soup_uri_to_string (uri->soup_uri, FALSE);
   }
 #endif
-#else /* !STATIC_SOUP */
+#else /* !LINK_SOUP */
   if (uri->soup_uri) {
     g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_uri_to_string_2 != NULL);
     return gst_soup_vtable._soup_uri_to_string_2 (uri->soup_uri, FALSE);
   }
-#endif /* STATIC_SOUP */
+#endif /* LINK_SOUP */
 
   g_assert_not_reached ();
   return NULL;
@@ -462,12 +409,12 @@ gst_soup_uri_to_string (GstSoupUri * uri)
 char *
 gst_soup_message_uri_to_string (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   SoupURI *uri = NULL;
   uri = soup_message_get_uri (msg);
   return soup_uri_to_string (uri, FALSE);
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   GUri *uri = NULL;
   uri = soup_message_get_uri (msg);
   return g_uri_to_string_partial (uri, G_URI_HIDE_PASSWORD);
@@ -499,7 +446,7 @@ gst_soup_message_uri_to_string (SoupMessage * msg)
 guint
 _soup_get_major_version (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_get_major_version ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_get_major_version != NULL);
@@ -510,7 +457,7 @@ _soup_get_major_version (void)
 guint
 _soup_get_minor_version (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_get_minor_version ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_get_minor_version != NULL);
@@ -521,7 +468,7 @@ _soup_get_minor_version (void)
 guint
 _soup_get_micro_version (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_get_micro_version ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_get_micro_version != NULL);
@@ -533,12 +480,12 @@ void
 _soup_message_set_request_body_from_bytes (SoupMessage * msg,
     const char *content_type, GBytes * bytes)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   gsize size;
   gconstpointer data = g_bytes_get_data (bytes, &size);
   soup_message_body_append (msg->request_body, SOUP_MEMORY_COPY, data, size);
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   soup_message_set_request_body_from_bytes (msg, content_type, bytes);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -561,7 +508,7 @@ _soup_message_set_request_body_from_bytes (SoupMessage * msg,
 GType
 _soup_session_get_type (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_session_get_type ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_get_type != NULL);
@@ -572,7 +519,7 @@ _soup_session_get_type (void)
 GType
 _soup_logger_log_level_get_type (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_logger_log_level_get_type ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_logger_log_level_get_type != NULL);
@@ -583,7 +530,7 @@ _soup_logger_log_level_get_type (void)
 GType
 _soup_content_decoder_get_type (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_content_decoder_get_type ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_content_decoder_get_type != NULL);
@@ -594,7 +541,7 @@ _soup_content_decoder_get_type (void)
 GType
 _soup_cookie_jar_get_type (void)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_cookie_jar_get_type ();
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_cookie_jar_get_type != NULL);
@@ -605,7 +552,7 @@ _soup_cookie_jar_get_type (void)
 void
 _soup_session_abort (SoupSession * session)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_session_abort (session);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_abort != NULL);
@@ -616,7 +563,7 @@ _soup_session_abort (SoupSession * session)
 SoupMessage *
 _soup_message_new (const char *method, const char *uri_string)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_new (method, uri_string);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_new != NULL);
@@ -627,10 +574,10 @@ _soup_message_new (const char *method, const char *uri_string)
 SoupMessageHeaders *
 _soup_message_get_request_headers (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return msg->request_headers;
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_message_get_request_headers (msg);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -647,10 +594,10 @@ _soup_message_get_request_headers (SoupMessage * msg)
 SoupMessageHeaders *
 _soup_message_get_response_headers (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return msg->response_headers;
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_message_get_response_headers (msg);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -667,7 +614,7 @@ _soup_message_get_response_headers (SoupMessage * msg)
 void
 _soup_message_headers_remove (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, const char *name)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_headers_remove (hdrs, name);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_remove != NULL);
@@ -679,7 +626,7 @@ void
 _soup_message_headers_append (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, const char *name,
     const char *value)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_headers_append (hdrs, name, value);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_append != NULL);
@@ -690,7 +637,7 @@ _soup_message_headers_append (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, const char *name,
 void
 _soup_message_set_flags (SoupMessage * msg, SoupMessageFlags flags)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_set_flags (msg, flags);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_set_flags != NULL);
@@ -701,7 +648,7 @@ _soup_message_set_flags (SoupMessage * msg, SoupMessageFlags flags)
 void
 _soup_session_add_feature_by_type (SoupSession * session, GType feature_type)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_session_add_feature_by_type (session, feature_type);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_add_feature_by_type != NULL);
@@ -713,7 +660,7 @@ void
 _soup_message_headers_foreach (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs,
     SoupMessageHeadersForeachFunc func, gpointer user_data)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_headers_foreach (hdrs, func, user_data);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_foreach != NULL);
@@ -724,7 +671,7 @@ _soup_message_headers_foreach (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs,
 SoupEncoding
 _soup_message_headers_get_encoding (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_headers_get_encoding (hdrs);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_get_encoding != NULL);
@@ -735,7 +682,7 @@ _soup_message_headers_get_encoding (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs)
 goffset
 _soup_message_headers_get_content_length (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_headers_get_content_length (hdrs);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_get_content_length != NULL);
@@ -746,10 +693,10 @@ _soup_message_headers_get_content_length (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs)
 SoupStatus
 _soup_message_get_status (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return msg->status_code;
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_message_get_status (msg);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -766,10 +713,10 @@ _soup_message_get_status (SoupMessage * msg)
 const char *
 _soup_message_get_reason_phrase (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return msg->reason_phrase;
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_message_get_reason_phrase (msg);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -786,7 +733,7 @@ _soup_message_get_reason_phrase (SoupMessage * msg)
 const char *
 _soup_message_headers_get_one (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, const char *name)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_headers_get_one (hdrs, name);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_get_one != NULL);
@@ -797,7 +744,7 @@ _soup_message_headers_get_one (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, const char *name)
 void
 _soup_message_disable_feature (SoupMessage * msg, GType feature_type)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_disable_feature (msg, feature_type);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_disable_feature != NULL);
@@ -809,7 +756,7 @@ const char *
 _soup_message_headers_get_content_type (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs,
     GHashTable ** params)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_headers_get_content_type (hdrs, params);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_get_content_type != NULL);
@@ -821,7 +768,7 @@ gboolean
 _soup_message_headers_get_content_range (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs,
     goffset * start, goffset * end, goffset * total_length)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_message_headers_get_content_range (hdrs, start, end,
       total_length);
 #else
@@ -835,7 +782,7 @@ void
 _soup_message_headers_set_range (SoupMessageHeaders * hdrs, goffset start,
     goffset end)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_message_headers_set_range (hdrs, start, end);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_message_headers_set_range != NULL);
@@ -847,7 +794,7 @@ void
 _soup_auth_authenticate (SoupAuth * auth, const char *username,
     const char *password)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_auth_authenticate (auth, username, password);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_auth_authenticate != NULL);
@@ -858,10 +805,10 @@ _soup_auth_authenticate (SoupAuth * auth, const char *username,
 const char *
 _soup_message_get_method (SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   return msg->method;
-#elif STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#elif LINK_SOUP == 3
   return soup_message_get_method (msg);
 #endif
 #else
@@ -880,8 +827,8 @@ _soup_session_send_async (SoupSession * session, SoupMessage * msg,
     GCancellable * cancellable, GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
     gpointer user_data)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 2
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 2
   soup_session_send_async (session, msg, cancellable, callback, user_data);
 #else
   soup_session_send_async (session, msg, G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, cancellable,
@@ -904,7 +851,7 @@ GInputStream *
 _soup_session_send_finish (SoupSession * session,
     GAsyncResult * result, GError ** error)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_session_send_finish (session, result, error);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_send_finish != NULL);
@@ -916,7 +863,7 @@ GInputStream *
 _soup_session_send (SoupSession * session, SoupMessage * msg,
     GCancellable * cancellable, GError ** error)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_session_send (session, msg, cancellable, error);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_session_send != NULL);
@@ -928,8 +875,8 @@ void
 gst_soup_session_cancel_message (SoupSession * session, SoupMessage * msg,
     GCancellable * cancellable)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
-#if STATIC_SOUP == 3
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
+#if LINK_SOUP == 3
   g_cancellable_cancel (cancellable);
 #else
   soup_session_cancel_message (session, msg, SOUP_STATUS_CANCELLED);
@@ -948,7 +895,7 @@ gst_soup_session_cancel_message (SoupSession * session, SoupMessage * msg,
 SoupCookie *
 _soup_cookie_parse (const char *header)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   return soup_cookie_parse (header, NULL);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_cookie_parse != NULL);
@@ -960,7 +907,7 @@ _soup_cookie_parse (const char *header)
 void
 _soup_cookies_to_request (GSList * cookies, SoupMessage * msg)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_cookies_to_request (cookies, msg);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_cookies_to_request != NULL);
@@ -971,7 +918,7 @@ _soup_cookies_to_request (GSList * cookies, SoupMessage * msg)
 void
 _soup_cookies_free (GSList * cookies)
 {
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
   soup_cookies_free (cookies);
 #else
   g_assert (gst_soup_vtable._soup_cookies_free != NULL);
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.h b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.h
index 0cedf70007..ccc7445cb4 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.h
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouploader.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #ifndef __GST_SOUP_LOADER_H__
 #define __GST_SOUP_LOADER_H__
 
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
 #include <libsoup/soup.h>
 #else
 #include "stub/soup.h"
@@ -89,10 +89,10 @@ void _soup_session_add_feature (SoupSession *session,
 void _soup_session_add_feature_by_type (SoupSession *session, GType feature_type);
 
 typedef struct _GstSoupUri {
-#if (defined(STATIC_SOUP) && STATIC_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(STATIC_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
+#if (defined(LINK_SOUP) && LINK_SOUP == 3) || (!defined(LINK_SOUP) && GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 66, 0))
   GUri *uri;
 #endif
-#if (defined(STATIC_SOUP) && STATIC_SOUP == 2) || !defined(STATIC_SOUP)
+#if (defined(LINK_SOUP) && LINK_SOUP == 2) || !defined(LINK_SOUP)
   SoupURI *soup_uri;
 #endif
 } GstSoupUri;
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouputils.h b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouputils.h
index 2ac84a8781..6336e3dcb1 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouputils.h
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/gstsouputils.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <gst/gst.h>
 
-#ifdef STATIC_SOUP
+#ifdef LINK_SOUP
 #include <libsoup/soup.h>
 #else
 #include "stub/soup.h"
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/meson.build
index f542fc2127..075fe91d7b 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/ext/soup/meson.build
@@ -8,36 +8,43 @@ soup_sources = [
 ]
 
 soup_opt = get_option('soup')
+soup_ver_opt = get_option('soup-version')
 if soup_opt.disabled()
   subdir_done()
 endif
 
 libdl_dep = cc.find_library('dl', required: false)
 
-static_args = []
-static_deps = []
+soup_link_args = []
+soup_link_deps = []
+libsoup2_dep = disabler()
+libsoup3_dep = disabler()
 default_library = get_option('default_library')
-if default_library in ['static', 'both'] or get_option('soup-lookup-dep')
-  libsoup2_dep = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>=2.48',
-                            required : false, fallback : ['libsoup', 'libsoup_dep'],
-                            default_options: ['sysprof=disabled'])
-  libsoup3_dep = dependency('libsoup-3.0', required : false,
-                            fallback : ['libsoup3', 'libsoup_dep'])
-  if not libsoup2_dep.found() and not libsoup3_dep.found()
+if host_system != 'linux' or default_library in ['static', 'both']
+  if soup_ver_opt in ['auto', '3']
+    libsoup3_dep = dependency('libsoup-3.0', allow_fallback: true,
+                              required: soup_ver_opt == '3' and soup_opt.enabled())
+  endif
+  if soup_ver_opt in ['auto', '2']
+    libsoup2_dep = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>=2.48', allow_fallback: true,
+                              default_options: ['sysprof=disabled'],
+                              required: soup_ver_opt == '2' and soup_opt.enabled())
+  endif
+
+  if libsoup3_dep.found()
+    soup_link_deps += libsoup3_dep
+    soup_link_args += '-DLINK_SOUP=3'
+    message('soup plugin: linking to libsoup-3.0')
+  elif libsoup2_dep.found()
+    soup_link_deps += libsoup2_dep
+    soup_link_args += '-DLINK_SOUP=2'
+    message('soup plugin: linking to libsoup-2.4')
+  else
     if soup_opt.enabled()
       error('Either libsoup2 or libsoup3 is needed')
     endif
     subdir_done()
   endif
-  if libsoup3_dep.found()
-    static_deps += libsoup3_dep
-    static_args += '-DSTATIC_SOUP=3'
-    message('soup plugin: using libsoup-3.0 for static build')
-  elif libsoup2_dep.found()
-    static_deps += libsoup2_dep
-    static_args += '-DSTATIC_SOUP=2'
-    message('soup plugin: using libsoup-2.4 for static build')
-  endif
 endif
 
 soup_library_kwargs = {
@@ -50,25 +57,35 @@ soup_library_kwargs = {
 soup_library_deps = [gst_dep, gstbase_dep, gsttag_dep, gmodule_dep, gio_dep, libdl_dep]
 soup_library_c_args = gst_plugins_good_args
 
-if default_library in ['shared', 'both']
-  gstsouphttpsrc_shared = shared_library('gstsoup',
-    c_args : soup_library_c_args,
-    dependencies : soup_library_deps,
+if host_system != 'linux'
+  gstsouphttpsrc = library('gstsoup',
+    c_args : soup_library_c_args + soup_link_args,
+    dependencies : soup_library_deps + soup_link_deps,
     kwargs: soup_library_kwargs,
   )
+  gstsouphttpsrc_shared = gstsouphttpsrc
+  gstsouphttpsrc_static = gstsouphttpsrc
+else
+  if default_library in ['static', 'both']
+    gstsouphttpsrc_static = static_library('gstsoup',
+      c_args : soup_library_c_args + soup_link_args,
+      dependencies : soup_library_deps + soup_link_deps,
+      kwargs: soup_library_kwargs,
+    )
+  endif
+  if default_library in ['shared', 'both']
+    gstsouphttpsrc_shared = shared_library('gstsoup',
+      c_args : soup_library_c_args,
+      dependencies : soup_library_deps,
+      kwargs: soup_library_kwargs,
+    )
+  endif
 endif
 
-if default_library in ['static', 'both']
-  gstsouphttpsrc_static = static_library('gstsoup',
-    c_args : soup_library_c_args + static_args,
-    dependencies : soup_library_deps + static_deps,
-    kwargs: soup_library_kwargs,
-  )
-endif
-
-# Use the static library to generate the .pc file if it's available. The shared
-# library .pc file does not have a Requires: on libsoup-2.4, and we use plugin
-# .pc files to generate dependencies for linking plugins statically.
+# Use the static library to generate the .pc file on Linux if it's available.
+# In that case, the shared library .pc file does not have a Requires: on
+# libsoup-2.4, and we use plugin .pc files to generate dependencies for linking
+# plugins statically.
 if default_library == 'shared'
   pkgconfig.generate(gstsouphttpsrc_shared, install_dir : plugins_pkgconfig_install_dir)
 else
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson_options.txt b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson_options.txt
index 2d95ea5203..a4e15ed805 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson_options.txt
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson_options.txt
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ option('rpi-lib-dir', type : 'string', value : '/opt/vc/lib', description : 'Dir
 
 # soup plugin options
 option('soup', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'libsoup HTTP client source/sink plugin')
-option('soup-lookup-dep', type : 'boolean', value : false,
-       description : 'Lookup libsoup dep at build time even when building a shared plugin')
+option('soup-version', type : 'combo', value : 'auto', choices : ['auto', '2', '3'],
+       description: 'Force a specific libsoup version if linking to it (N/A for shared builds on Linux)')
 
 # Qt plugin options
 option('qt-method', type: 'combo', value: 'auto', choices: ['auto', 'pkg-config', 'qmake'],
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/tests/check/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/tests/check/meson.build
index 0871323abc..2fe0b00e23 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/tests/check/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/tests/check/meson.build
@@ -152,12 +152,6 @@ if host_machine.system() != 'windows'
 endif
 
 if get_option('soup').allowed()
-  libsoup3_dep = dependency('libsoup-3.0', required : false,
-                             fallback : ['libsoup3', 'libsoup_dep'])
-  libsoup2_dep = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>=2.48',
-                            required : false, fallback : ['libsoup', 'libsoup_dep'],
-                            default_options: ['sysprof=disabled'])
-
   if libsoup3_dep.found()
     good_tests += [['elements/souphttpsrc', false, [libsoup3_dep], []]]
   elif libsoup2_dep.found()
diff --git a/subprojects/libsoup.wrap b/subprojects/libsoup.wrap
index 69493f526e..4a12f2c6c1 100644
--- a/subprojects/libsoup.wrap
+++ b/subprojects/libsoup.wrap
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ source_url = https://download.gnome.org/sources/libsoup/2.74/libsoup-2.74.3.tar.
 source_fallback_url = https://ftp.acc.umu.se/pub/gnome/sources/libsoup/2.74/libsoup-2.74.3.tar.xz
 source_filename = libsoup-2.74.3.tar.xz
 source_hash = e4b77c41cfc4c8c5a035fcdc320c7bc6cfb75ef7c5a034153df1413fa1d92f13
+
+[provide]
+libsoup-2.4 = libsoup_dep
+libsoup-gnome-2.4 = libsoup_gnome_dep