diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8c14b66..a3618e8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ endif
 cpu = host_machine.cpu_family()
 
 if cpu == 'x86_64'
-	c_args += '-mavx'
+	c_args += '-m' + get_option('x86_64-simd')
 elif cpu == 'arm'
 	c_args += '-mfpu=neon'
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 107baee..ed83cb1 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+option('examples', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Build examples')
 option('tight-encoding', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Enable Tight encoding')
 option('tls', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Enable encryption & authentication')
-option('examples', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Build examples')
+option('x86_64-simd', type: 'string', value: 'avx',
+       description: 'Choose SIMD extension for x86_64 release build')