diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c26c417de1..9432c5f173 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2164,8 +2164,14 @@ endif
 # libxdp
 libxdp = not_found
 if not get_option('af_xdp').auto() or have_system
-    libxdp = dependency('libxdp', required: get_option('af_xdp'),
-                        version: '>=1.4.0', method: 'pkg-config')
+    if libbpf.found()
+        libxdp = dependency('libxdp', required: get_option('af_xdp'),
+                            version: '>=1.4.0', method: 'pkg-config')
+    else
+        if get_option('af_xdp').enabled()
+            error('libxdp requested, but libbpf is not available')
+        endif
+    endif
 endif
 
 # libdw
diff --git a/net/meson.build b/net/meson.build
index e0cd71470e..bb97b4dcbe 100644
--- a/net/meson.build
+++ b/net/meson.build
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if have_netmap
   system_ss.add(files('netmap.c'))
 endif
 
-system_ss.add(when: libxdp, if_true: files('af-xdp.c'))
+system_ss.add(when: [libxdp, libbpf], if_true: files('af-xdp.c'))
 
 if have_vhost_net_user
   system_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_VIRTIO_NET', if_true: files('vhost-user.c'), if_false: files('vhost-user-stub.c'))