diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e64c5b0a3e..a6e8dccd1b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ subprojects = [
   ['gstreamer-sharp', { 'option': get_option('sharp') }],
   ['pygobject', { 'option': get_option('python'), 'match_gst_version': false }],
   ['gst-python', { 'option': get_option('python'), 'has-plugins': true}],
-  ['gst-examples', { 'option': get_option('examples'), 'match_gst_versions': false}],
+  ['gst-examples', { 'option': get_option('gst-examples'), 'match_gst_versions': false}],
 ]
 
 symlink = '''
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index de4243c341..5ae2ea251f 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ option('omx', type : 'feature', value : 'disabled')
 option('vaapi', type : 'feature', value : 'auto')
 option('sharp', type : 'feature', value : 'disabled')
 option('custom_subprojects', type : 'string', value : '', description : 'Comma-separated project names')
+option('gst-examples', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Build gst-examples')
 
 # Common options, automatically inherited by subprojects
 option('examples', type : 'feature', value : 'auto', description : 'Build examples')