diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8b41defd..a0f3d9c7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ project('mangohud',
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 cpp = meson.get_compiler('cpp')
 prog_python = import('python').find_installation('python3')
+null_dep = dependency('', required : false)
 
 pre_args = [
   '-D__STDC_CONSTANT_MACROS',
@@ -171,7 +172,6 @@ endforeach
 
 # check for dl support
 if cc.has_function('dlopen')
-  null_dep = dependency('', required : false)
   dep_dl = null_dep
 else
   dep_dl = cc.find_library('dl')