diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 79aca2aa66..782f7153f4 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ option('documentation', type: 'boolean', value: 'false',
   description : 'Build API reference and tools documentation')
 option('man-pages', type: 'boolean', value: 'false',
   description : 'Build man pages for installed tools')
-option('introspection', type: 'boolean', value: 'true',
+option('introspection', type: 'boolean', value: 'false',
   description : 'Build introspection data (requires gobject-introspection)')
 
 # Demos and binaries