diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 0a7b4c48d..848c5fb2e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ if not get_option('icu').disabled()
   endif
 endif
 
-if icu_dep.found()
+if icu_dep.found() and icu_dep.type_name() == 'pkgconfig'
   icu_defs = icu_dep.get_variable(pkgconfig: 'DEFS', default_value: '')
   if icu_defs != ''
     add_project_arguments(icu_defs, language: ['c', 'cpp'])