diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 81cb66510..b3892b407 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -461,7 +461,9 @@ configure_file(output: 'config.h', configuration: conf)
 
 alias_target('lib', libharfbuzz)
 alias_target('libs', libharfbuzz, libharfbuzz_subset)
-alias_target('clippy', clippy)
+if get_option('fontations').enabled()
+  alias_target('clippy', clippy)
+endif
 
 if meson.version().version_compare('>=0.57.0')
   # Re glib, see https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz/issues/4153#issuecomment-2646347531