diff --git a/ui/meson.build b/ui/meson.build
index 78ad792ffb..fb36d305ca 100644
--- a/ui/meson.build
+++ b/ui/meson.build
@@ -113,8 +113,11 @@ if have_system or xkbcommon.found()
 endif
 
 subdir('shader')
-subdir('icons')
 
-install_data('qemu.desktop', install_dir: config_host['qemu_desktopdir'])
+if have_system
+  subdir('icons')
+
+  install_data('qemu.desktop', install_dir: config_host['qemu_desktopdir'])
+endif
 
 modules += {'ui': ui_modules}