diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1867560da6..db8918dd30 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -3754,7 +3754,6 @@ subdir('qom')
 subdir('authz')
 subdir('crypto')
 subdir('ui')
-subdir('gdbstub')
 subdir('semihosting')
 subdir('audio')
 subdir('io')
@@ -3805,6 +3804,7 @@ if have_system or have_user
                          output: 'decode-@BASENAME@.c.inc',
                          arguments: ['@INPUT@', '@EXTRA_ARGS@', '-o', '@OUTPUT@'])
   subdir('libdecnumber')
+  subdir('gdbstub')
   subdir('target')
 endif