diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5ebc0a51e9..d1433e3dbc 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1811,7 +1811,9 @@ if have and efi_arch == 'x64' and cc.links('''
         efi_cpu_family_alt = 'x86'
 endif
 
-want_ukify = get_option('ukify').require(python_39, error_message : 'Python >= 3.9 required').allowed()
+pefile = pymod.find_installation('python3', required: false, modules : ['pefile'])
+
+want_ukify = get_option('ukify').require(python_39 and (want_tests != 'true' or pefile.found()), error_message : 'Python >= 3.9 and pefile required').allowed()
 conf.set10('ENABLE_UKIFY', want_ukify)
 
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