diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8909f8c87d..df9a64302f 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -3759,12 +3759,10 @@ system_ss.add(migration)
 block_ss = block_ss.apply({})
 libblock = static_library('block', block_ss.sources() + genh,
                           dependencies: block_ss.dependencies(),
-                          link_depends: block_syms,
                           name_suffix: 'fa',
                           build_by_default: false)
 
 block = declare_dependency(link_whole: [libblock],
-                           link_args: '@block.syms',
                            dependencies: [crypto, io])
 
 blockdev_ss = blockdev_ss.apply({})
@@ -4033,10 +4031,13 @@ endif
 
 if have_tools
   qemu_img = executable('qemu-img', [files('qemu-img.c'), hxdep],
+             link_args: '@block.syms', link_depends: block_syms,
              dependencies: [authz, block, crypto, io, qom, qemuutil], install: true)
   qemu_io = executable('qemu-io', files('qemu-io.c'),
+             link_args: '@block.syms', link_depends: block_syms,
              dependencies: [block, qemuutil], install: true)
   qemu_nbd = executable('qemu-nbd', files('qemu-nbd.c'),
+               link_args: '@block.syms', link_depends: block_syms,
                dependencies: [blockdev, qemuutil, gnutls, selinux],
                install: true)
 
diff --git a/storage-daemon/meson.build b/storage-daemon/meson.build
index 46267b63e7..fd5e32f4b2 100644
--- a/storage-daemon/meson.build
+++ b/storage-daemon/meson.build
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ if have_tools
   qsd_ss = qsd_ss.apply({})
   qsd = executable('qemu-storage-daemon',
                    qsd_ss.sources(),
+                   link_args: '@block.syms', link_depends: block_syms,
                    dependencies: qsd_ss.dependencies(),
                    install: true)
 endif