diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a290dbfa33..147097c652 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -4235,14 +4235,14 @@ foreach target : target_dirs
       'name': 'qemu-system-' + target_name,
       'win_subsystem': 'console',
       'sources': files('system/main.c'),
-      'dependencies': []
+      'dependencies': [sdl]
     }]
     if host_os == 'windows' and (sdl.found() or gtk.found())
       execs += [{
         'name': 'qemu-system-' + target_name + 'w',
         'win_subsystem': 'windows',
         'sources': files('system/main.c'),
-        'dependencies': []
+        'dependencies': [sdl]
       }]
     endif
     if get_option('fuzzing')