diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 57b87f4c3..d13c3eb41 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -188,7 +188,9 @@ else
 endif
 
 libfabric_path = get_option('libfabric_path')
-if libfabric_path != ''
+if get_option('disable_libfabric_backend')
+  libfabric_dep = disabler()
+elif libfabric_path != ''
   libfabric_lib_path = libfabric_path + '/lib'
   libfabric_inc_path = libfabric_path + '/include'
   # Check if path is absolute
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index fc28c08f2..8bd464748 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ option('etcd_inc_path', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Path to ETCD He
 option('etcd_lib_path', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Path to ETCD Libraries')
 option('disable_gds_backend', type : 'boolean', value : false, description : 'disable gds backend')
 option('disable_mooncake_backend', type : 'boolean', value : false, description : 'disable mooncake backend')
+option('disable_libfabric_backend', type : 'boolean', value : false, description : 'disable libfabric backend')
 option('install_headers', type : 'boolean', value : true, description : 'install headers')
 option('gds_path', type: 'string', value: '/usr/local/cuda/', description: 'Path to GDS CuFile install')
 option('cudapath_inc', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Include path for CUDA')
diff --git a/src/plugins/meson.build b/src/plugins/meson.build
index 2a97127b4..da7562a3a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/meson.build
+++ b/src/plugins/meson.build
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ endif
 subdir('posix')  # Always try to build POSIX backend, it will handle its own dependencies
 subdir('obj')  # Always try to build Obj backend, it will handle its own dependencies
 
-if libfabric_dep.found()
+if libfabric_dep.found() and not get_option('disable_libfabric_backend')
     subdir('libfabric')
 endif
 
diff --git a/src/utils/meson.build b/src/utils/meson.build
index e7ee0a508..3c47ab753 100644
--- a/src/utils/meson.build
+++ b/src/utils/meson.build
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ endif
 subdir('stream')
 subdir('file')
 
-if libfabric_dep.found()
+if libfabric_dep.found() and not get_option('disable_libfabric_backend')
     subdir('libfabric')
 endif
diff --git a/test/unit/utils/meson.build b/test/unit/utils/meson.build
index d6bc46592..c95a93e13 100644
--- a/test/unit/utils/meson.build
+++ b/test/unit/utils/meson.build
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 subdir('common')
-if libfabric_dep.found()
+if libfabric_dep.found() and not get_option('disable_libfabric_backend')
     subdir('libfabric')
 endif
 subdir('serdes')