diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d70b92827..7231afa42 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -600,10 +600,7 @@ elif get_option('docs') == 'docgen'
     native: true,
     fallback: ['gi-docgen', 'dummy_dep'],
   )
-  gidocgen = find_program('gi-docgen')
-  if not get_option('introspection')
-    error('introspection is needed for docgen')
-  endif
+  gidocgen = find_program('gi-docgen', required: get_option('introspection'))
 endif
 
 subdir('libfwupd')