diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 077441fe88..780654b00c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -830,14 +830,10 @@ if have_system and get_option('curses').allowed()
     }'''
 
   curses_dep_list = targetos == 'windows' ? ['ncurses', 'ncursesw'] : ['ncursesw']
-  foreach curses_dep : curses_dep_list
-    if not curses.found()
-      curses = dependency(curses_dep,
-                          required: false,
-                          method: 'pkg-config',
-                          kwargs: static_kwargs)
-    endif
-  endforeach
+  curses = dependency(curses_dep_list,
+                      required: false,
+                      method: 'pkg-config',
+                      kwargs: static_kwargs)
   msg = get_option('curses').enabled() ? 'curses library not found' : ''
   curses_compile_args = ['-DNCURSES_WIDECHAR=1']
   if curses.found()