diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
index dacad017ede0..25e2e69ef315 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ mesonConfigurePhase() {
     meson build $mesonFlags "${mesonFlagsArray[@]}"
     cd build
 
+    if ! [[ -v enableParallelBuilding ]]; then
+        enableParallelBuilding=1
+        echo "meson: enabled parallel building"
+    fi
+
     runHook postConfigure
 }