diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index db6a7d97e..818bd67e2 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -177,9 +177,11 @@ common_deps = [
 endforeach
 
 # Check for CUPS 1.4 or newer
-cups_dep = dependency('cups', version : '>= 1.4', required: false)
-assert(cups_dep.found(), 'CUPS 1.4 or newer not found')
+cups_dep = dependency('cups', version : '>= 1.4', required: get_option('cups'))
+enable_cups = cups_dep.found()
+have_cups_httpconnect2 = false
 
+if enable_cups
 # https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=696766
 cups_cflags = []
 if cups_dep.version().version_compare('>= 1.6')
@@ -196,8 +198,13 @@ foreach header: check_headers
   assert(cc.has_header(header[1], args: cups_cflags), 'CUPS headers not found: ' + header[1])
 endforeach
 
+have_cups_httpconnect2 = cc.has_function('httpConnect2', dependencies: cups_dep)
+endif
+
+config_h.set('BUILD_PRINTERS', enable_cups,
+             description: 'Define to 1 to build the Printers panel')
 config_h.set10('HAVE_CUPS_HTTPCONNECT2',
-               cc.has_function('httpConnect2', dependencies: cups_dep),
+               have_cups_httpconnect2,
                description: 'Define if httpConnect2() is available in CUPS')
 
 # Remote login use SOCKET based SSH instead of starting 'eagerly'
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 90f9045c2..c656f4cff 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 option('ssh', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'build with SSH Socket based connection for remote login')
+option('cups', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'build with CUPS support (printer panel)')
 option('documentation', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'build documentation')
 option('ibus', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'build with IBus support')
 option('privileged_group', type: 'string', value: 'wheel', description: 'name of group that has elevated permissions')
diff --git a/panels/meson.build b/panels/meson.build
index e04f5e2c9..c10ef5128 100644
--- a/panels/meson.build
+++ b/panels/meson.build
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ panels = [
   'night-light',
   'notifications',
   'power',
-  'printers',
   'region',
   'removable-media',
   'sharing',
@@ -27,6 +26,10 @@ panels = [
   'user-accounts',
 ]
 
+if enable_cups
+  panels += ['printers']
+endif
+
 if enable_network_manager
   panels += ['network', 'wwan']
 endif
diff --git a/shell/cc-panel-loader.c b/shell/cc-panel-loader.c
index 4819f98ad..d540acceb 100644
--- a/shell/cc-panel-loader.c
+++ b/shell/cc-panel-loader.c
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ extern GType cc_notifications_panel_get_type (void);
 extern GType cc_notifications_panel_get_type (void);
 //extern GType cc_goa_panel_get_type (void);
 extern GType cc_power_panel_get_type (void);
+#ifdef BUILD_PRINTERS
 extern GType cc_printers_panel_get_type (void);
+#endif /* BUILD_PRINTERS */
 extern GType cc_region_panel_get_type (void);
 extern GType cc_removable_media_panel_get_type (void);
 extern GType cc_sharing_panel_get_type (void);
@@ -116,7 +118,9 @@ static CcPanelLoaderVtable default_panels[] =
 #endif
   PANEL_TYPE("notifications",    cc_notifications_panel_get_type,        NULL),
   PANEL_TYPE("power",            cc_power_panel_get_type,                NULL),
+#ifdef BUILD_PRINTERS
   PANEL_TYPE("printers",         cc_printers_panel_get_type,             NULL),
+#endif
   PANEL_TYPE("region",           cc_region_panel_get_type,               NULL),
   PANEL_TYPE("removable-media",  cc_removable_media_panel_get_type,      NULL),
   PANEL_TYPE("sharing",          cc_sharing_panel_get_type,              NULL),
-- 
2.32.0