diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index dae4ed9..b8b534f 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -11,19 +11,20 @@ project('obelisk',
 
 llvm = dependency('llvm', version: '>= 14.0.0', modules : ['core', 'target', 'mcjit', 'nativecodegen'], required : true, method: 'config-tool')
 
-doxygen = find_program('doxygen', required : false)
-
 cdata = configuration_data()
 cdata.set('VERSION', meson.project_version())
 
-if find_program('dot', required : false).found()
-    cdata.set('HAVE_DOT', 'YES')
-else
-    cdata.set('HAVE_DOT', 'NO')
-endif
-
-if doxygen.found()
-    subdir('doc')
+docs_enabled = get_option('docs')
+if docs_enabled
+    doxygen = find_program('doxygen', required : false)
+    if doxygen.found()
+        if find_program('dot', required : false).found()
+            cdata.set('HAVE_DOT', 'YES')
+        else
+            cdata.set('HAVE_DOT', 'NO')
+        endif
+        subdir('doc')
+    endif
 endif
 
 subdir('src')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7ab105
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+option('docs',
+    type: 'boolean',
+    value: true,
+    description: 'Build documentation for obelisk')