diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8ef161a..bb9091b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -127,9 +127,13 @@ test_env = [
 
 subdir('accounts-service')
 subdir('libmalcontent')
-subdir('libmalcontent-ui')
+if get_option('ui').enabled()
+  subdir('libmalcontent-ui')
+endif
 subdir('malcontent-client')
-subdir('malcontent-control')
+if get_option('ui').enabled()
+  subdir('malcontent-control')
+endif
 subdir('pam')
 subdir('po')
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 06329d4..9d32658 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -9,3 +9,9 @@ option(
   type: 'string',
   description: 'directory for PAM modules'
 )
+option(
+  'ui',
+  type: 'feature',
+  value: 'enabled',
+  description: 'enable UI library'
+)