diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 9dbce76d4..935deebd4 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -51,3 +51,4 @@ option('metainfo', type: 'boolean', value : true, description : 'install the pro
 option('bash_completion', type: 'boolean', value : true, description : 'enable bash completion')
 option('fish_completion', type: 'boolean', value : true, description : 'enable fish completion')
 option('offline', type: 'boolean', value : true, description : 'enable installing firmware using a pre-boot systemd target')
+option('compat_cli', type: 'boolean', value : true, description : 'enable legacy commands: fwupdagent,dfu-tool,fwupdate')
diff --git a/plugins/dfu/meson.build b/plugins/dfu/meson.build
index 5b7bd0ad6..826c875fb 100644
--- a/plugins/dfu/meson.build
+++ b/plugins/dfu/meson.build
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ shared_module('fu_plugin_dfu',
   ],
 )
 
+if get_option('compat_cli')
 fu_dfu_tool = executable(
   'dfu-tool',
   fu_hash,
@@ -79,8 +80,9 @@ fu_dfu_tool = executable(
   install : true,
   install_dir : bindir
 )
+endif
 
-if get_option('man')
+if get_option('compat_cli') and get_option('man')
   configure_file(
     input : 'dfu-tool.1',
     output : 'dfu-tool.1',
diff --git a/plugins/uefi-capsule/meson.build b/plugins/uefi-capsule/meson.build
index d1286a487..01e2f07b1 100644
--- a/plugins/uefi-capsule/meson.build
+++ b/plugins/uefi-capsule/meson.build
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ shared_module('fu_plugin_uefi_capsule',
   ],
 )
 
+if get_option('compat_cli')
 fwupdate = executable(
   'fwupdate',
   resources_src,
@@ -100,8 +101,9 @@ fwupdate = executable(
   install_dir : bindir,
   c_args : cargs,
 )
+endif
 
-if get_option('man')
+if get_option('compat_cli') and get_option('man')
   configure_file(
     input : 'fwupdate.1',
     output : 'fwupdate.1',
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 3e409a364..1135e33dd 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -100,12 +100,14 @@ fwupdmgr = executable(
 )
 
 # for compatibility
+if get_option('compat_cli')
 meson.add_install_script(
   'sh', '-c',
   'ln -fs fwupdmgr @0@@1@'.format(
       '${DESTDIR}',
       join_paths(get_option('prefix'), get_option('bindir'), 'fwupdagent')))
 endif
+endif
 
 if get_option('systemd') and get_option('offline')
 fwupdoffline = executable(