diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0fd6da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+option('install-tools', type: 'boolean', value: false)
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index 4bfdae9..aac9512 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@ tools = {
 foreach tool, params: tools
   tool_exe = executable(tool, '@0@.c'.format(tool),
     dependencies: libmks_dep,
+         install: get_option('install-tools'),
   )
 endforeach