diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index 0fd3bc62cf..6be806f4ae 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ else
 endif
 
 
+virgdbusmock_dep = declare_dependency(
+  compile_args: [ '-DGIO_COMPILATION' ]
+)
+
 # mock_libs:
 #   each entry is a dictionary with following items:
 #   * name - mock library name which is also used as default source file name (required)
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ mock_libs = [
   { 'name': 'virdnsmasqmock' },
   { 'name': 'virfilecachemock' },
   { 'name': 'virfirewallmock' },
-  { 'name': 'virgdbusmock' },
+  { 'name': 'virgdbusmock', 'deps': [ virgdbusmock_dep] },
   { 'name': 'virhostcpumock' },
   { 'name': 'virhostdevmock' },
   { 'name': 'virnetdaemonmock' },