diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 1da81d5..6a80872 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pygobject_dep = dependency('pygobject-3.0', fallback: ['pygobject', 'pygobject_d
 
 pymod = import('python')
 python = pymod.find_installation(get_option('python'))
-python_dep = python.dependency(required : true)
+python_dep = dependency('python3-embed', fallback: ['python', 'python_dep'], required : true)
 
 python_abi_flags = python.get_variable('ABIFLAGS', '')
 pylib_loc = get_option('libpython-dir')