diff --git a/app-tools/meson.build b/app-tools/meson.build
index 4a29f381bc..c66ac7c6cb 100644
--- a/app-tools/meson.build
+++ b/app-tools/meson.build
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ gimp_debug_tool = executable('gimp-debug-tool-' + gimp_app_version,
   link_with: [
     libapp,
     libappwidgets,
+    libgimpbase,
   ],
   install: true,
   install_dir: get_option('libexecdir')