diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index af79bd4d..90c4d6ad 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ endif
 conf.set('CONFIG_JSONC', json_c_dep.found(), description: 'Is json-c available?')
 
 # Check for libhugetlbfs availability (optional)
-if cc.has_header('hugetlbfs.h')
+if get_option('hugepages') and cc.has_header('hugetlbfs.h')
   libhugetlbfs_dep = cc.find_library('hugetlbfs',
-                                     required : false)
+                                     required : true)
 else
   libhugetlbfs_dep = dependency('', required: false)
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index c61dae0f..a05a7e0f 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -70,3 +70,9 @@ option(
   type : 'string',
   description : 'override the git version string'
 )
+option(
+  'hugepages',
+  type: 'boolean',
+  value : false,
+  description : 'Enable support for hugetlbfs'
+)