diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 8bf6c2bd..8049496e 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ option('libdw',
         value : 'auto',
         description : 'Enable libdw integration for backtrace symbolization')
 
+option('apps-output-dng',
+        type : 'feature',
+        value : 'auto',
+        description : 'Enable DNG file creation support in the cam and qcam applications')
+
 option('libunwind',
         type : 'feature',
         value : 'auto',
diff --git a/src/apps/meson.build b/src/apps/meson.build
index af632b9a..bc3a7919 100644
--- a/src/apps/meson.build
+++ b/src/apps/meson.build
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if not libevent.found()
     libevent = dependency('libevent_pthreads', required : opt_lc_compliance)
 endif
 
-libtiff = dependency('libtiff-4', required : false)
+libtiff = dependency('libtiff-4', required : get_option('apps-output-dng'))
 
 subdir('common')