diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 15119cb..bef86e5 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ fs = import('fs')
 
 python = import('python').find_installation(pure: false)
 
+thread_dep = dependency('thread')
+
 numpy_abs_incdir = run_command(
     python, '-c', 'import numpy; print(numpy.get_include())',
     check: true,
diff --git a/src/pymmcore/meson.build b/src/pymmcore/meson.build
index ae8c337..1d80941 100644
--- a/src/pymmcore/meson.build
+++ b/src/pymmcore/meson.build
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ python.extension_module(
     swig_gen_cpp_sources,
     dependencies: [
         mmcore_dep,
+        thread_dep,
     ],
     include_directories: [
         numpy_incdirs,