diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5d98f742e6..ed4b093e4e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -4555,12 +4555,12 @@ if want_tests != 'false' and static_libudev_pic
 endif
 
 if want_tests != 'false'
-        udev_rule_runner = TESTS['udev-rule-runner'].full_path()
-
+        exe = TESTS.get('udev-rule-runner')
         test('test-udev',
              test_udev_py,
              args : ['-v'],
-             env : ['UDEV_RULE_RUNNER=@0@'.format(udev_rule_runner)],
+             env : ['UDEV_RULE_RUNNER=' + exe.full_path()],
+             depends : exe,
              timeout : 180)
 endif