diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 770ed321..5e4c80b9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ else
 endif
 
 subdir('data')
-subdir('plugins/gnome-builder')
 subdir('src')
-subdir('test')
+
+if get_option('plugins')
+  subdir('plugins/gnome-builder')
+endif
+
+if get_option('tests')
+  subdir('test')
+endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 2df115b0..69dec3f3 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ option('active_parameter', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Support
 option('debug_mem', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Debug memory usage')
 option('builder_abi', type: 'string', value: 'auto', description: 'Builder ABI version. Use a value like \'3.38\'')
 option('man_pages', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Generate and install man pages.')
+option('plugins', type: 'boolean', value: 'true', description: 'Install plugins.')
+option('tests', type: 'boolean', value: 'true', description: 'Build tests.')
diff --git a/plugins/gnome-builder/meson.build b/plugins/gnome-builder/meson.build
index d1afbf07..25b8b5a7 100644
--- a/plugins/gnome-builder/meson.build
+++ b/plugins/gnome-builder/meson.build
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ if builder_abi == 'auto'
   # attempt to guess the correct ABI from the installed GNOME Builder
   sh = find_program('sh', native: true, required: false)
   sed = find_program('sed', native: true, required: false)
-  gnome_builder = find_program('gnome-builder',
-    dirs: [get_option('prefix') / get_option('libdir')], native: true, required: false)
+  gnome_builder = find_program('gnome-builder', native: true, required: false)
   if gnome_builder.found() and sed.found() and sh.found()
     r = run_command(sh, 'get_builder_abi.sh', gnome_builder, sed, check: true)
     builder_abi = r.stdout().strip()