diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e7c19e36a..02a93f576 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 add_project_arguments(cc.get_supported_arguments(warning_flags), language : 'c')
 
 # use honggfuzz for parallel persistent fuzzing
-honggfuzz = find_program('honggfuzz', required: cc.has_function('HF_ITER'))
-if honggfuzz.found()
+honggfuzz = find_program('honggfuzz', required: false)
+if cc.has_function('HF_ITER')
   conf.set('HAVE_HF_ITER', '1')
 endif