diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 1877d800..2104469e 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ option('cam',
 
 option('documentation',
         type : 'feature',
+        value : 'auto',
         description : 'Generate the project documentation')
 
 option('doc_werror',