diff --git a/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am b/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
index 20974dd046..b4fb9387a1 100644
--- a/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
+++ b/src/locking/Makefile.inc.am
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 # vim: filetype=automake
 
-LOCK_DRIVER_SANLOCK_HELPER_SOURCES = \
-	locking/sanlock_helper.c
-
 RPC_PROBE_FILES += $(srcdir)/locking/lock_protocol.x
 SYSCONF_FILES += locking/virtlockd.sysconf
 
@@ -46,20 +43,6 @@ if WITH_LIBXL
 nodist_conf_DATA += locking/libxl-sanlock.conf
 endif WITH_LIBXL
 
-libexec_PROGRAMS += libvirt_sanlock_helper
-
-libvirt_sanlock_helper_SOURCES = $(LOCK_DRIVER_SANLOCK_HELPER_SOURCES)
-libvirt_sanlock_helper_CFLAGS = \
-	-I$(srcdir)/conf \
-	$(AM_CFLAGS) \
-	$(NULL)
-libvirt_sanlock_helper_LDFLAGS = \
-	$(AM_LDFLAGS) \
-	$(NULL)
-libvirt_sanlock_helper_LDADD = \
-	libvirt.la \
-	$(GLIB_LIBS) \
-	$(NULL)
 endif WITH_SANLOCK
 
 conf_DATA += locking/virtlockd.conf
diff --git a/src/locking/meson.build b/src/locking/meson.build
index cdd558779c..0e48c86afc 100644
--- a/src/locking/meson.build
+++ b/src/locking/meson.build
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ sanlock_sources = [
   'lock_driver_sanlock.c',
 ]
 
+sanlock_helper_sources = files(
+  'sanlock_helper.c',
+)
+
 lock_driver_lib = static_library(
   'virt_lock_driver',
   [
@@ -129,4 +133,16 @@ if conf.has('WITH_LIBVIRTD')
       include_directories('.'),
     ],
   }
+
+  if conf.has('WITH_SANLOCK')
+    virt_helpers += {
+      'name': 'libvirt_sanlock_helper',
+      'sources': [
+        sanlock_helper_sources,
+      ],
+      'include': [
+        conf_inc_dir,
+      ],
+    }
+  endif
 endif