diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 481fded2..d2dbd1f9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -563,6 +563,7 @@ endif
 catch2 = dependency(
     'catch2',
     version: '>=3.5.1',
+    default_options: [ 'tests=false' ],
     fallback: ['catch2', 'catch2_dep'],
     required: get_option('tests'),
 )