diff --git a/perf/meson.build b/perf/meson.build
index 56a399540..e12744c4d 100644
--- a/perf/meson.build
+++ b/perf/meson.build
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ google_benchmark = subproject('google-benchmark')
 google_benchmark_dep = google_benchmark.get_variable('google_benchmark_dep')
 
 ttf_parser_dep = null_dep
-if add_languages('rust', required: false, native: true)
+if get_option('experimental_api') and add_languages('rust', required: false, native: true)
   ttf_parser_dep = subproject('ttf-parser').get_variable('ttf_parser_dep')
 endif