diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/meson.build
index 0568fafc8..e7bfa9965 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/meson.build
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ gnome.compile_resources(
   install_dir: pkgdatadir
 )
 
+desktop_file = app_id + '.desktop'
 desktopconf = configuration_data()
 # We substitute in bindir so it works as an autostart
 # file when built in a non-system prefix
@@ -15,17 +16,25 @@ desktopconf.set('prgname', prgname)
 
 i18n.merge_file('desktop',
   input: configure_file(
-    input: app_id + '.desktop.in.in',
-    output: app_id + '.desktop.in',
+    input: desktop_file + '.in.in',
+    output: desktop_file + '.in',
     configuration: desktopconf
   ),
-  output: app_id + '.desktop',
+  output: desktop_file,
   po_dir: po_dir,
   install: true,
   install_dir: desktopdir,
   type: 'desktop'
 )
 
+if (desktop_file_validate.found())
+  test('Validating ' + desktop_file,
+    desktop_file_validate,
+    args: [desktop_file],
+    workdir: meson.current_build_dir()
+  )
+endif
+
 configure_file(
   input: app_id + '.service.in',
   output: app_id + '.service',
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
index e26b5b20d..2c1c5de6e 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ servicedir = join_paths(datadir, 'dbus-1', 'services')
 
 gjs = find_program('gjs')
 appstream_util = find_program('appstream-util', required: false)
+desktop_file_validate = find_program('desktop-file-validate', required: false)
 
 subdir('data')
 subdir('js')