diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3df3337..5d9b34b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ config = configuration_data()
 
 config.set('PREFIX', '"' + prefix + '"')
 
-if host_system == 'linux' and cc.has_header('sys/sdt.h')
+if host_system == 'linux' and get_option('systemtap') and cc.has_header('sys/sdt.h')
 	config.set('HAVE_USDT', true)
 endif
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 2521c27..d1781a7 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ option('pam', type: 'feature', value: 'auto',
 	description: 'Enable PAM authentication')
 option('man-pages', type: 'feature', value: 'auto',
 	description: 'Generate and install man pages')
+option('systemtap', type: 'boolean', value: false,
+	description: 'Enable tracing using sdt')