diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 27ace2e7eb..b87aa6988f 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ option('debug-threads',
 
 option('build-examples',
   type : 'boolean',
-  value : true,
+  value : false,
   description : 'Compile examples'
 )