diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a35c5fffd7..3a7d902632 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ if have_qoi
   MIMEtypes += 'image/qoi'
 endif
 
-have_ilbm = cc.has_header('libilbm/ilbm.h')
+have_ilbm = cc.has_header('libilbm/ilbm.h', required: get_option('ilbm'))
 if have_ilbm
   MIMEtypes += 'image/x-ilbm'
 endif
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index d0fb70c1e0..679c1f40a2 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ option('cairo-pdf',         type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Cairo-
 option('ghostscript',       type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Ghostscript support')
 option('gudev',             type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Gudev support')
 option('heif',              type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'HEIF support')
+option('ilbm',              type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Amiga IFF support')
 option('jpeg2000',          type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Jpeg-2000 support')
 option('jpeg-xl',           type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'JPEG XL support')
 option('mng',               type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Mng support')