diff --git a/docs/meson.build b/docs/meson.build
index cc8d964069c0ede198466e0a9bdd8f90a1afbe7a..06db37076ebe533797da8fa7789edfca0d9e187a 100644
--- a/docs/meson.build
+++ b/docs/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-subdir('man')
+if with_manpage
+  subdir('man')
+endif
 if with_gtkdoc
   subdir('reference/libsecret')
 endif