diff --git a/src/tests/clutter-test-utils.h b/src/tests/clutter-test-utils.h
index 48443f201..95f54ceed 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter-test-utils.h
+++ b/src/tests/clutter-test-utils.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include "clutter/clutter-color.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-private.h"
 #include "meta/common.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/accessibility/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/accessibility/meson.build
index cf5154561..ce6361b59 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/accessibility/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/accessibility/meson.build
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ clutter_test_accessibility_c_args = [
 clutter_test_accessibility_c_args += clutter_debug_c_args
 
 clutter_accessibility_tests_dependencies = [
-  clutter_deps,
-  libmutter_clutter_dep,
-  libmutter_dep,
+  libmutter_test_dep,
 ]
 
 clutter_accessibility_tests = [
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
index 387360ddf..aec4a9148 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/conform/meson.build
@@ -66,9 +66,7 @@ foreach test : clutter_conform_tests
     c_args: clutter_tests_conform_c_args,
     link_args: clutter_tests_conform_link_args,
     dependencies: [
-      clutter_deps,
-      libmutter_clutter_dep,
-      libmutter_dep
+      libmutter_test_dep,
     ],
     install: false,
   )
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/meson.build
index 5b37a98bf..e853184ef 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/meson.build
@@ -62,16 +62,13 @@ executable('test-interactive',
   sources: clutter_tests_interactive_sources,
   include_directories: [
     clutter_includes,
-    clutter_tests_includepath,
+    clutter_tests_includes,
     clutter_tests_interactive_includepath,
   ],
   c_args: clutter_tests_interactive_c_args,
   link_args: clutter_tests_interactive_link_args,
   dependencies: [
-    clutter_deps,
-    libmutter_clutter_dep,
-    libmutter_dep,
-    gdk_pixbuf_dep,
+    libmutter_test_dep,
   ],
   install: false,
 )
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-main.c b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-main.c
index 541a0e01b..29fc82a6a 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-main.c
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-main.c
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 #include <gmodule.h>
 
 #include "backends/x11/nested/meta-backend-x11-nested.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/clutter-test-utils.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
 
 #include "test-unit-names.h"
 
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/meson.build
index e09b7f94e..ae05ae064 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 clutter_tests_includepath = include_directories('.')
+clutter_tests_includes = [
+  tests_includepath,
+  clutter_tests_includepath,
+]
 
 subdir('accessibility')
 subdir('conform')
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/micro-bench/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/micro-bench/meson.build
index 4c2b3b803..7fa2a8fca 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/micro-bench/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/micro-bench/meson.build
@@ -24,9 +24,7 @@ foreach test : clutter_tests_micro_bench_tests
     include_directories: clutter_includes,
     c_args: clutter_tests_micro_bench_c_args,
     dependencies: [
-      clutter_deps,
-      libmutter_clutter_dep,
-      libmutter_dep,
+      libmutter_test_dep,
     ],
     install: false,
   )
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/performance/meson.build b/src/tests/clutter/performance/meson.build
index b1d8bd516..2c7637bad 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/performance/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/performance/meson.build
@@ -23,13 +23,11 @@ foreach test : clutter_tests_performance_tests
     ],
     include_directories: [
       clutter_includes,
-      clutter_tests_includepath,
+      clutter_tests_includes,
     ],
     c_args: clutter_tests_performance_c_args,
     dependencies: [
-      clutter_deps,
-      libmutter_clutter_dep,
-      libmutter_dep,
+      libmutter_test_dep,
     ],
     install: false,
   )
diff --git a/src/tests/headless-start-test.c b/src/tests/headless-start-test.c
index fb64ca13f..85f1b8ee2 100644
--- a/src/tests/headless-start-test.c
+++ b/src/tests/headless-start-test.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #include "backends/meta-crtc.h"
 #include "backends/meta-output.h"
 #include "core/display-private.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/meta-monitor-manager-test.h"
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/tests/meson.build b/src/tests/meson.build
index 6d7a8976b..a809cef8a 100644
--- a/src/tests/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/meson.build
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-test_context_sources = [
+mutter_test_sources = [
   'meta-backend-test.c',
   'meta-backend-test.h',
   'meta-context-test.c',
-  'meta-context-test.h',
   'meta-gpu-test.c',
   'meta-gpu-test.h',
   'meta-monitor-manager-test.c',
@@ -13,17 +12,15 @@ test_context_sources = [
   'meta-test-utils.h',
 ]
 
+libmutter_test_name = 'mutter-test-' + libmutter_api_version
+
 clutter_test_utils = files (
-  test_context_sources,
   'clutter-test-utils.c',
   'clutter-test-utils.h',
 )
 
-if have_clutter_tests
-  subdir('clutter')
-endif
-
-tests_includepath = mutter_includes
+tests_includepath = include_directories('.')
+tests_includes = mutter_includes
 tests_c_args = mutter_c_args
 
 tests_deps = [
@@ -33,6 +30,41 @@ tests_deps = [
   libmutter_clutter_dep,
 ]
 
+libmutter_test = shared_library(libmutter_test_name,
+                                mutter_test_sources,
+                                gnu_symbol_visibility: 'hidden',
+                                include_directories: tests_includes,
+                                c_args: tests_c_args,
+                                dependencies: tests_deps,
+                                install_rpath: pkglibdir,
+                                install_dir: libdir,
+                                install: true,
+)
+
+libmutter_test_dep = declare_dependency(
+  link_with: libmutter_test,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
+  dependencies: tests_deps,
+)
+
+pkg.generate(libmutter_test,
+  name: 'Meta (test framework)',
+  filebase: 'libmutter-test-' + libmutter_api_version,
+  description: 'Mutter test framework',
+  subdirs: pkgname,
+  requires: ['libmutter-' + libmutter_api_version],
+  version: meson.project_version(),
+  variables: [
+    'apiversion=' + libmutter_api_version,
+  ],
+  install_dir: pcdir,
+)
+
+if have_clutter_tests
+  subdir('clutter')
+endif
+
+subdir('meta-test')
 subdir('wayland-test-clients')
 
 if have_installed_tests
@@ -60,7 +92,7 @@ test_env.set('MUTTER_TEST_PLUGIN_PATH', '@0@'.format(default_plugin.full_path())
 
 test_client = executable('mutter-test-client',
   sources: ['test-client.c'],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
   dependencies: [
     gtk3_dep,
@@ -74,19 +106,17 @@ test_client = executable('mutter-test-client',
 
 test_runner = executable('mutter-test-runner',
   sources: [
-    test_context_sources,
     'test-runner.c',
   ],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
-  dependencies: [tests_deps],
+  dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
   install: have_installed_tests,
   install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
 )
 
 unit_tests = executable('mutter-test-unit-tests',
   sources: [
-    test_context_sources,
     'unit-tests.c',
     'boxes-tests.c',
     'boxes-tests.h',
@@ -107,35 +137,33 @@ unit_tests = executable('mutter-test-unit-tests',
     test_driver_server_header,
     test_driver_protocol_code,
   ],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
-  dependencies: [tests_deps],
+  dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
   install: have_installed_tests,
   install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
 )
 
 headless_start_test = executable('mutter-headless-start-test',
   sources: [
-    test_context_sources,
     'headless-start-test.c',
   ],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
-  dependencies: [tests_deps],
+  dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
   install: have_installed_tests,
   install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
 )
 
 stage_view_tests = executable('mutter-stage-view-tests',
   sources: [
-    test_context_sources,
     'monitor-test-utils.c',
     'monitor-test-utils.h',
     'stage-view-tests.c',
   ],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
-  dependencies: [tests_deps],
+  dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
   install: have_installed_tests,
   install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
 )
@@ -144,7 +172,7 @@ anonymous_file_test = executable('anonymous-file-tests',
   sources: [
     'anonymous-file.c',
   ],
-  include_directories: tests_includepath,
+  include_directories: tests_includes,
   c_args: tests_c_args,
   dependencies: [tests_deps],
   install: have_installed_tests,
@@ -170,7 +198,6 @@ if have_native_tests
 
   native_headless_tests = executable('mutter-native-headless-tests',
     sources: [
-      test_context_sources,
       'native-headless.c',
       'native-screen-cast.c',
       'native-screen-cast.h',
@@ -178,22 +205,21 @@ if have_native_tests
       'native-virtual-monitor.h',
       ref_test_sources,
     ],
-    include_directories: tests_includepath,
+    include_directories: tests_includes,
     c_args: tests_c_args,
-    dependencies: [tests_deps],
+    dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
     install: have_installed_tests,
     install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
   )
 
   ref_test_sanity = executable('mutter-ref-test-sanity',
     sources: [
-      test_context_sources,
       'ref-test-sanity.c',
       ref_test_sources,
     ],
-    include_directories: tests_includepath,
+    include_directories: tests_includes,
     c_args: tests_c_args,
-    dependencies: [tests_deps],
+    dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
     install: have_installed_tests,
     install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
   )
@@ -203,7 +229,7 @@ if have_native_tests
       'screen-cast-client.c',
       dbus_screen_cast_built_sources,
     ],
-    include_directories: tests_includepath,
+    include_directories: tests_includes,
     c_args: tests_c_args,
     dependencies: [
       gio_dep,
@@ -216,12 +242,11 @@ if have_native_tests
   native_persistent_virtual_monitor = executable(
     'mutter-persistent-virtual-monitor',
     sources: [
-      test_context_sources,
       'native-persistent-virtual-monitor.c',
     ],
-    include_directories: tests_includepath,
+    include_directories: tests_includes,
     c_args: tests_c_args,
-    dependencies: [tests_deps],
+    dependencies: libmutter_test_dep,
     install: have_installed_tests,
     install_dir: mutter_installed_tests_libexecdir,
   )
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-backend-test.h b/src/tests/meta-backend-test.h
index d1cf81f1c..ad57a42e8 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-backend-test.h
+++ b/src/tests/meta-backend-test.h
@@ -23,12 +23,15 @@
 #include "backends/x11/nested/meta-backend-x11-nested.h"
 
 #define META_TYPE_BACKEND_TEST (meta_backend_test_get_type ())
+META_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (MetaBackendTest, meta_backend_test,
                       META, BACKEND_TEST, MetaBackendX11Nested)
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_backend_test_set_is_lid_closed (MetaBackendTest *backend_test,
                                           gboolean         is_lid_closed);
 
+META_EXPORT
 MetaGpu * meta_backend_test_get_gpu (MetaBackendTest *backend_test);
 
 #endif /* META_BACKEND_TEST_H */
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-context-test.c b/src/tests/meta-context-test.c
index b9716e28c..7ba6c6b51 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-context-test.c
+++ b/src/tests/meta-context-test.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <gio/gio.h>
@@ -267,6 +267,9 @@ meta_context_test_wait_for_x11_display (MetaContextTest *context_test)
   g_assert_nonnull (meta_display_get_x11_display (display));
 }
 
+/**
+ * meta_create_test_context: (skip)
+ */
 MetaContext *
 meta_create_test_context (MetaContextTestType type,
                           MetaContextTestFlag flags)
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-monitor-manager-test.h b/src/tests/meta-monitor-manager-test.h
index aa23448e7..5b0b6d8e7 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-monitor-manager-test.h
+++ b/src/tests/meta-monitor-manager-test.h
@@ -46,29 +46,36 @@ struct _MetaOutputTest
 typedef MetaMonitorTestSetup * (* CreateTestSetupFunc) (void);
 
 #define META_TYPE_CRTC_TEST (meta_crtc_test_get_type ())
+META_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (MetaCrtcTest, meta_crtc_test,
                       META, CRTC_TEST,
                       MetaCrtc)
 
 #define META_TYPE_OUTPUT_TEST (meta_output_test_get_type ())
+META_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (MetaOutputTest, meta_output_test,
                       META, OUTPUT_TEST,
                       MetaOutput)
 
 #define META_TYPE_MONITOR_MANAGER_TEST (meta_monitor_manager_test_get_type ())
+META_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (MetaMonitorManagerTest, meta_monitor_manager_test,
                       META, MONITOR_MANAGER_TEST, MetaMonitorManager)
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_monitor_manager_test_init_test_setup (CreateTestSetupFunc func);
 
 void meta_monitor_manager_test_read_current (MetaMonitorManager *manager);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_monitor_manager_test_emulate_hotplug (MetaMonitorManagerTest *manager_test,
                                                 MetaMonitorTestSetup   *test_setup);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_monitor_manager_test_set_handles_transforms (MetaMonitorManagerTest *manager_test,
                                                        gboolean                handles_transforms);
 
+META_EXPORT
 int meta_monitor_manager_test_get_tiled_monitor_count (MetaMonitorManagerTest *manager_test);
 
 #endif /* META_MONITOR_MANAGER_TEST_H */
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-test-utils.c b/src/tests/meta-test-utils.c
index 4bb469133..24b7106d1 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-test-utils.c
+++ b/src/tests/meta-test-utils.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #include "core/display-private.h"
 #include "core/window-private.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "wayland/meta-wayland.h"
 #include "wayland/meta-xwayland.h"
 #include "x11/meta-x11-display-private.h"
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-test-utils.h b/src/tests/meta-test-utils.h
index 0b4c24755..2d8673e13 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-test-utils.h
+++ b/src/tests/meta-test-utils.h
@@ -35,51 +35,66 @@ typedef enum _MetaClientError
   META_TEST_CLIENT_ERROR_ASSERTION_FAILED
 } MetaClientError;
 
+META_EXPORT
 GQuark meta_test_client_error_quark (void);
 
 typedef struct _MetaAsyncWaiter MetaAsyncWaiter;
 typedef struct _MetaTestClient MetaTestClient;
 
+META_EXPORT
 gboolean meta_async_waiter_process_x11_event (MetaAsyncWaiter       *waiter,
                                               MetaX11Display        *display,
                                               XSyncAlarmNotifyEvent *event);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_async_waiter_set_and_wait (MetaAsyncWaiter *waiter);
 
+META_EXPORT
 MetaAsyncWaiter * meta_async_waiter_new (void);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_async_waiter_destroy (MetaAsyncWaiter *waiter);
 
+META_EXPORT
 char * meta_test_client_get_id (MetaTestClient *client);
 
+META_EXPORT
 gboolean meta_test_client_process_x11_event (MetaTestClient        *client,
                                              MetaX11Display        *x11_display,
                                              XSyncAlarmNotifyEvent *event);
 
+META_EXPORT
 gboolean meta_test_client_wait (MetaTestClient  *client,
                                 GError         **error);
 
+META_EXPORT
 gboolean meta_test_client_do (MetaTestClient  *client,
                               GError         **error,
                               ...) G_GNUC_NULL_TERMINATED;
 
+META_EXPORT
 MetaWindow * meta_test_client_find_window (MetaTestClient  *client,
                                            const char      *window_id,
                                            GError         **error);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_test_client_wait_for_window_shown (MetaTestClient *client,
                                              MetaWindow     *window);
 
+META_EXPORT
 gboolean meta_test_client_quit (MetaTestClient  *client,
                                 GError         **error);
 
+META_EXPORT
 MetaTestClient * meta_test_client_new (MetaContext           *context,
                                        const char            *id,
                                        MetaWindowClientType   type,
                                        GError               **error);
 
+META_EXPORT
 void meta_test_client_destroy (MetaTestClient *client);
 
+META_EXPORT
 const char * meta_test_get_plugin_name (void);
 
 #endif /* TEST_UTILS_H */
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-test/meson.build b/src/tests/meta-test/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cb4e9a9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/meta-test/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+mutter_test_includesubdir = join_paths(pkgname, 'meta-test')
+
+mutter_test_public_headers = [
+  'meta-context-test.h',
+]
+
+install_headers(mutter_test_public_headers,
+  subdir: mutter_test_includesubdir
+)
diff --git a/src/tests/meta-context-test.h b/src/tests/meta-test/meta-context-test.h
similarity index 94%
rename from src/tests/meta-context-test.h
rename to src/tests/meta-test/meta-context-test.h
index f9c8e1179..b1f678030 100644
--- a/src/tests/meta-context-test.h
+++ b/src/tests/meta-test/meta-context-test.h
@@ -21,13 +21,12 @@
 #ifndef META_CONTEXT_TEST_H
 #define META_CONTEXT_TEST_H
 
-#include "meta/meta-context.h"
+#include <meta/common.h>
+#include <meta/meta-context.h>
 
 typedef enum _MetaContextTestType
 {
-#ifdef HAVE_NATIVE_BACKEND
   META_CONTEXT_TEST_TYPE_HEADLESS,
-#endif
   META_CONTEXT_TEST_TYPE_NESTED,
 } MetaContextTestType;
 
@@ -39,14 +38,16 @@ typedef enum _MetaContextTestFlag
 } MetaContextTestFlag;
 
 #define META_TYPE_CONTEXT_TEST (meta_context_test_get_type ())
+META_EXPORT
 G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (MetaContextTest, meta_context_test,
                           META, CONTEXT_TEST,
                           MetaContext)
 
+META_EXPORT
 MetaContext * meta_create_test_context (MetaContextTestType type,
                                         MetaContextTestFlag flags);
 
-
+META_EXPORT
 int meta_context_test_run_tests (MetaContextTest *context_test);
 
 META_EXPORT
diff --git a/src/tests/native-headless.c b/src/tests/native-headless.c
index 06d456574..6680ba7b9 100644
--- a/src/tests/native-headless.c
+++ b/src/tests/native-headless.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/native-screen-cast.h"
 #include "tests/native-virtual-monitor.h"
 
diff --git a/src/tests/ref-test-sanity.c b/src/tests/ref-test-sanity.c
index 5815e36ce..0a9472b13 100644
--- a/src/tests/ref-test-sanity.c
+++ b/src/tests/ref-test-sanity.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "backends/meta-virtual-monitor.h"
 #include "backends/native/meta-renderer-native.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/meta-ref-test.h"
 
 static MetaVirtualMonitor *virtual_monitor;
diff --git a/src/tests/stage-view-tests.c b/src/tests/stage-view-tests.c
index c16d1b2ab..509af37fb 100644
--- a/src/tests/stage-view-tests.c
+++ b/src/tests/stage-view-tests.c
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 
 #include "clutter/clutter.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-stage-view-private.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/meta-backend-test.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/monitor-test-utils.h"
 
 static MonitorTestCaseSetup initial_test_case_setup = {
diff --git a/src/tests/test-runner.c b/src/tests/test-runner.c
index 4f6bdc81a..bdf2ef109 100644
--- a/src/tests/test-runner.c
+++ b/src/tests/test-runner.c
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "core/window-private.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "meta/util.h"
 #include "meta/window.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/meta-test-utils.h"
 #include "ui/ui.h"
 #include "wayland/meta-wayland.h"
diff --git a/src/tests/unit-tests.c b/src/tests/unit-tests.c
index 664fb24c5..a31f50536 100644
--- a/src/tests/unit-tests.c
+++ b/src/tests/unit-tests.c
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
 #include <meta/util.h>
 
 #include "core/boxes-private.h"
+#include "meta-test/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "meta/meta-context.h"
 #include "tests/boxes-tests.h"
-#include "tests/meta-context-test.h"
 #include "tests/monitor-config-migration-unit-tests.h"
 #include "tests/monitor-unit-tests.h"
 #include "tests/monitor-store-unit-tests.h"
diff --git a/src/tests/wayland-test-clients/meson.build b/src/tests/wayland-test-clients/meson.build
index 551a0d946..e26325d70 100644
--- a/src/tests/wayland-test-clients/meson.build
+++ b/src/tests/wayland-test-clients/meson.build
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ foreach test : wayland_test_clients
       '@0@.c'.format(test),
       common_sources,
     ],
-    include_directories: tests_includepath,
+    include_directories: tests_includes,
     c_args: tests_c_args,
     dependencies: [
       glib_dep,