diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2846c9b9f2..35e3da6e55 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -156,6 +156,16 @@ if rc.returncode() == 0
 endif
 
 
+# Add RPATH information when building for a non-standard prefix, or
+# when explicitly requested to do so
+
+if prefix == '/usr' and not get_option('rpath').enabled()
+  libvirt_rpath = ''
+else
+  libvirt_rpath = libdir
+endif
+
+
 # figure out libvirt version strings
 
 arr_version = meson.project_version().split('.')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index c538d323c1..79554c3186 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ option('runstatedir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'State directory f
 option('expensive_tests', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'set the default for enabling expensive tests (long timeouts), use VIR_TEST_EXPENSIVE to override')
 option('test_coverage', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'turn on code coverage instrumentation')
 option('git_werror', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'use -Werror if building from GIT')
+option('rpath', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'whether to include rpath information in installed binaries and libraries')
 
 
 # build dependencies options
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 73ac99f01e..d058cec2e4 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ libvirt_qemu_lib = shared_library(
     libvirt_qemu_syms_file,
   ],
   install: true,
-  install_rpath: libdir,
+  install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   version: libvirt_lib_version,
   soversion: libvirt_so_version,
 )
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ libvirt_lxc_lib = shared_library(
     libvirt_lxc_syms_file,
   ],
   install: true,
-  install_rpath: libdir,
+  install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   version: libvirt_lib_version,
   soversion: libvirt_so_version,
 )
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ libvirt_admin_lib = shared_library(
     libvirt_admin_syms_file,
   ],
   install: true,
-  install_rpath: libdir,
+  install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   version: libvirt_lib_version,
   soversion: libvirt_so_version,
 )
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ foreach module : virt_modules
     ],
     install: true,
     install_dir: module.get('install_dir', libdir / 'libvirt' / 'connection-driver'),
-    install_rpath: libdir,
+    install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   )
   set_variable('@0@_module'.format(module['name'].underscorify()), mod)
 endforeach
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ foreach daemon : virt_daemons
     ],
     install: true,
     install_dir: sbindir,
-    install_rpath: libdir,
+    install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   )
 endforeach
 
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ foreach helper : virt_helpers
     ],
     install: true,
     install_dir: helper.get('install_dir', libexecdir),
-    install_rpath: libdir,
+    install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   )
 endforeach
 
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index 090179470a..e18adfa7f2 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ if conf.has('WITH_HOST_VALIDATE')
     ],
     install: true,
     install_dir: bindir,
-    install_rpath: libdir,
+    install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   )
 endif
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ if conf.has('WITH_LOGIN_SHELL')
     ],
     install: true,
     install_dir: libexecdir,
-    install_rpath: libdir,
+    install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
   )
 
   install_data('virt-login-shell.conf', install_dir: sysconfdir / 'libvirt')
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ executable(
   ],
   install: true,
   install_dir: bindir,
-  install_rpath: libdir,
+  install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
 )
 
 executable(
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ executable(
   ],
   install: true,
   install_dir: bindir,
-  install_rpath: libdir,
+  install_rpath: libvirt_rpath,
 )
 
 tools_conf = configuration_data()