diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index c91cd241a..08e224561 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -84,6 +84,6 @@ option('udev',
        description : 'Enable udev support for hotplug')
 
 option('v4l2',
-        type : 'boolean',
-        value : false,
+        type : 'feature',
+        value : 'auto',
         description : 'Compile the V4L2 compatibility layer')
diff --git a/src/v4l2/meson.build b/src/v4l2/meson.build
index 58f53bf3d..e4daf8ae7 100644
--- a/src/v4l2/meson.build
+++ b/src/v4l2/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
 
-if not get_option('v4l2')
+if not get_option('v4l2').allowed()
     v4l2_enabled = false
     subdir_done()
 endif