--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -218,7 +218,11 @@ if get_option('gtk_doc')
   config_h.set10('GTKUNIXPRINT_ENABLED', enable_gtk_unix_print)
 
   if enable_dbus or enable_gtk_unix_print
-    gio_unix_dep = dependency('gio-unix-2.0', version: glib_req_version)
+    if host_machine.system() != 'windows'
+      gio_unix_dep = dependency('gio-unix-2.0', version: glib_req_version)
+    else
+      gio_unix_dep = dependency('', required: false)
+    endif
   else
     gio_unix_dep = dependency('', required: false)
   endif