diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py b/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
index b6c9aebbdb49..c9eae36d8467 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
@@ -789,10 +789,13 @@ def get_devenv(self) -> T.Optional[build.EnvironmentVariables]:
 
     def _get_gir_dep(self, state: 'ModuleState') -> T.Tuple[Dependency, T.Union[build.Executable, 'ExternalProgram', 'OverrideProgram'],
                                                             T.Union[build.Executable, 'ExternalProgram', 'OverrideProgram']]:
-        if not self.gir_dep:
-            self.gir_dep = state.dependency('gobject-introspection-1.0')
-            self.giscanner = state.find_tool('g-ir-scanner', 'gobject-introspection-1.0', 'g_ir_scanner')
-            self.gicompiler = state.find_tool('g-ir-compiler', 'gobject-introspection-1.0', 'g_ir_compiler')
+        if not self.gir_dep or not self.gir_dep.found():
+            for (dep, req) in [('gobject-introspection-no-typelibs-1.0', False), ('gobject-introspection-1.0', True)]:
+                self.gir_dep = state.dependency(dep, required=req)
+                self.giscanner = state.find_tool('g-ir-scanner', dep, 'g_ir_scanner', required=req)
+                self.gicompiler = state.find_tool('g-ir-compiler', dep, 'g_ir_compiler', required=req)
+                if self.gir_dep.found():
+                    break
         return self.gir_dep, self.giscanner, self.gicompiler
 
     @functools.lru_cache(maxsize=None)