diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index db32a57fba..67a208d517 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ gst_python_option = get_option('python').disable_if(get_option('introspection').
 
 # Ordered list of subprojects (dict has no ordering guarantees)
 subprojects = [
-  ['gstreamer', {'build-hotdoc': true, 'subproject_options': building_full_options}],
+  ['gstreamer', {'option': get_option('gstreamer'), 'build-hotdoc': true, 'subproject_options': building_full_options}],
   ['gst-plugins-base', {'option': get_option('base'), 'build-hotdoc': true}],
   ['gst-plugins-good', {'option': get_option('good'), 'build-hotdoc': true}],
   ['libnice', { 'option': get_option('libnice'), 'match_gst_version': false, 'subproject_options': libnice_options}],
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ foreach sp : subprojects
     subproj = subproject(project_name, required: is_required, default_options: default_options)
   endif
 
-  if project_name == 'gst-plugins-base' and subproj.found()
+  if project_name == 'gst-plugins-base' and subproj.found() and not is_required.disabled()
     gst_base_orc_req = subproj.get_variable('orc_req', '')
     if gst_base_orc_req != orc_req
       error('orc_req is "@0@" but it should be "@1@" from subprojects/gst-plugins-base/meson.build'
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 91b1449f18..39152be149 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # GStreamer subprojects
 option('base', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled')
+option('gstreamer', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled')
 option('good', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled')
 option('ugly', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled')
 option('bad', type : 'feature', value : 'enabled')