diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3015ca70d..40a77f277 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -73,13 +73,20 @@ if not get_option('freetype').disabled()
 
   if not freetype_dep.found() and cpp.get_id() == 'msvc'
     freetype_dep = cpp.find_library('freetype', required: false,
-                                    has_headers: ['ft2build.h'], )
+                                    has_headers: ['ft2build.h'])
   endif
 
   if not freetype_dep.found()
-    freetype_dep = dependency('freetype2', fallback: ['freetype2', 'freetype_dep'],
-                              default_options: ['harfbuzz=disabled'],
-                              required: get_option('freetype'))
+    freetype_dep = dependency('freetype2', required: false,
+                              fallback: ['freetype2', 'freetype_dep'])
+  endif
+
+  if not freetype_dep.found()
+    # try to fetch freetype2 without harfbuzz, just as a last resort
+    # https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz/pull/2498
+    freetype_dep = dependency('freetype2', required: get_option('freetype'),
+                              fallback: ['freetype2', 'freetype_dep'],
+                              default_options: ['harfbuzz=disabled'])
   endif
 else
   freetype_dep = dependency('', required: false)