diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 0d9898775..a352bd3d1 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ gnome = import('gnome')
 pkg = import('pkgconfig')
 i18n  = import('i18n')
 fs = import('fs')
+python = import('python')
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
 add_project_link_arguments(
@@ -356,6 +357,7 @@ have_installed_tests = false
 
 if have_tests
   gtk3_dep = dependency('gtk+-3.0', version: gtk3_req)
+  dbusmock_dep = python.find_installation('python3', modules: ['dbusmock'], required: false)
 
   have_core_tests = get_option('core_tests')
   if have_core_tests
@@ -365,6 +367,9 @@ if have_tests
     if not have_x11_client
       error('Tests requires an X11 client')
     endif
+    if not dbusmock_dep.found()
+      error('Tests require python-dbusmock')
+    endif
   endif
   have_native_tests = get_option('native_tests')
   if have_native_tests