diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d7e21c2..b98f608 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ INSTALL_DIR = get_option('datadir') / 'gnome-shell' / 'extensions' / UUID
 gnome = import('gnome')
 i18n = import('i18n')
 
-npm_exe = find_program('npm')
+npm_exe = find_program('npm', required: false)
 if npm_exe.found()
 	run_target('dev', command: [ npm_exe, 'install', '--save-dev' ])
 endif