diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/meson.build b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/meson.build
index 6f7b007e1e..aecc8d9fc9 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/meson.build
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-keepalive/meson.build
@@ -6,7 +6,13 @@
 # To build this example as a standalone application with an already-installed
 # DPDK instance, use 'make'
 
-ext_deps += cc.find_library('rt')
+librt = cc.find_library('rt', required: false)
+if not librt.found()
+	build = false
+	subdir_done()
+endif
+
+ext_deps += librt
 deps += 'timer'
 sources = files(
 	'main.c', 'shm.c'