diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 95e3243370..a16d205b2b 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ option('l2tpv3', type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description: 'l2tpv3 network backend support')
 option('netmap', type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description: 'netmap network backend support')
-option('slirp', type: 'feature', value: 'auto',
+option('slirp', type: 'feature', value: 'enabled',
        description: 'libslirp user mode network backend support')
 option('vde', type : 'feature', value : 'auto',
        description: 'vde network backend support')