diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 058382046e..1a7e301fc9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -984,8 +984,12 @@ pyopt = get_option('plpython')
 if not pyopt.disabled()
   pm = import('python')
   python3_inst = pm.find_installation(required: pyopt.enabled())
-  python3_dep = python3_inst.dependency(embed: true, required: pyopt.enabled())
-  if not cc.check_header('Python.h', dependencies: python3_dep, required: pyopt.enabled())
+  if python3_inst.found()
+    python3_dep = python3_inst.dependency(embed: true, required: pyopt.enabled())
+    if not cc.check_header('Python.h', dependencies: python3_dep, required: pyopt.enabled())
+      python3_dep = not_found_dep
+    endif
+  else
     python3_dep = not_found_dep
   endif
 else