diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a61d3e9b06..969a84f2a4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1797,8 +1797,7 @@ malloc = []
 if get_option('malloc') == 'system'
   has_malloc_trim = \
     get_option('malloc_trim').allowed() and \
-    cc.links('''#include <malloc.h>
-                int main(void) { malloc_trim(0); return 0; }''')
+    cc.has_function('malloc_trim', prefix: '#include <malloc.h>')
 else
   has_malloc_trim = false
   malloc = cc.find_library(get_option('malloc'), required: true)
@@ -1811,34 +1810,19 @@ if not has_malloc_trim and get_option('malloc_trim').enabled()
   endif
 endif
 
-# Check whether the glibc provides statx()
-
 gnu_source_prefix = '''
   #ifndef _GNU_SOURCE
   #define _GNU_SOURCE
   #endif
 '''
-statx_test = gnu_source_prefix + '''
-  #include <sys/stat.h>
-  int main(void) {
-    struct statx statxbuf;
-    statx(0, "", 0, STATX_BASIC_STATS, &statxbuf);
-    return 0;
-  }'''
 
-has_statx = cc.links(statx_test)
+# Check whether the glibc provides STATX_BASIC_STATS
+
+has_statx = cc.has_header_symbol('sys/stat.h', 'STATX_BASIC_STATS', prefix: gnu_source_prefix)
 
 # Check whether statx() provides mount ID information
 
-statx_mnt_id_test = gnu_source_prefix + '''
-  #include <sys/stat.h>
-  int main(void) {
-    struct statx statxbuf;
-    statx(0, "", 0, STATX_BASIC_STATS | STATX_MNT_ID, &statxbuf);
-    return statxbuf.stx_mnt_id;
-  }'''
-
-has_statx_mnt_id = cc.links(statx_mnt_id_test)
+has_statx_mnt_id = cc.has_header_symbol('sys/stat.h', 'STATX_MNT_ID', prefix: gnu_source_prefix)
 
 have_vhost_user_blk_server = get_option('vhost_user_blk_server') \
   .require(targetos == 'linux',