--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ option('alsa', type: 'boolean', value: f
 option('systemd',
   type: 'feature', description: 'Systemd integration support'
 )
+option('introspection', type: 'boolean', value: true,
+       description: 'Generate GObject introspection data')
--- a/libcinnamon-desktop/meson.build
+++ b/libcinnamon-desktop/meson.build
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ pkgconfig.generate(
   variables: [ 'exec_prefix=${prefix}'],
 )
 
+if get_option('introspection')
 cdesktop_gir = gnome.generate_gir(libcinnamon_desktop,
   sources: 'cdesktop-enums.h',
   namespace: 'CDesktopEnums',
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ gnome.generate_gir(libcinnamon_desktop,
   ],
   install: true,
 )
+endif
 
 # FIXME
 # https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/1687
--- a/libcvc/meson.build
+++ b/libcvc/meson.build
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ libcvc = shared_library('cvc',
   version: '0.0.0',
 )
 
+if get_option('introspection')
 gnome.generate_gir(libcvc,
   sources: libcvc_gir_sources + libcvc_headers + libcvc_enums,
   namespace: 'Cvc',
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ gnome.generate_gir(libcvc,
   ],
   install: true,
 )
-
+endif
 
 install_headers(
   libcvc_headers,