diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1f4acaa50b..0b3980c5a2 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1064,9 +1064,13 @@ subdir('bin')
 # VLC plugins
 subdir('modules')
 
-# Integration and non-regression tests, some unittest are there too but the
-# modules/, src/ and lib/ folders should be favoured for those.
-subdir('test')
+if (get_option('tests')
+    .disable_auto_if(host_system in ['windows'])
+    .allowed())
+    # Integration and non-regression tests, some unittest are there too but the
+    # modules/, src/ and lib/ folders should be favoured for those.
+    subdir('test')
+endif
 
 if get_option('rust').allowed()
     warning('''
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 608117b6d1..dfebc028c1 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ option('vlc',
     value : true,
     description : 'Build the VLC executable program.')
 
+option('tests',
+    type : 'feature',
+    value : 'auto',
+    description : 'Build the VLC test executables.')
+
 option('nls',
     type : 'feature',
     value : 'auto',