diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a4c2bbc14..ca250ce99 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -214,6 +214,9 @@ deps += gtest
 toml11 = dependency('toml11', version : '>=3.7.0', required : true)
 deps += toml11
 
+nlohmann_json = dependency('nlohmann_json', required : true)
+deps += nlohmann_json
+
 #
 # Build-time tools
 #
diff --git a/src/libcmd/meson.build b/src/libcmd/meson.build
index c3782723b..6ef293c8f 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/meson.build
+++ b/src/libcmd/meson.build
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ libcmd = library(
     boehm,
     editline,
     lowdown,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   install : true,
   # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
diff --git a/src/libexpr/meson.build b/src/libexpr/meson.build
index 7c0555f8f..099279d56 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/meson.build
+++ b/src/libexpr/meson.build
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ libexpr = library(
     boehm,
     boost,
     toml11,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   # for shared.hh
   include_directories : [
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/meson.build b/src/libfetchers/meson.build
index 5eacfd5c4..3809701b7 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/meson.build
+++ b/src/libfetchers/meson.build
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ libfetchers = library(
   dependencies : [
     liblixstore,
     liblixutil,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   install : true,
   # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
diff --git a/src/libstore/meson.build b/src/libstore/meson.build
index 29dbc5e70..7e1c8d548 100644
--- a/src/libstore/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/meson.build
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ libstore = library(
     aws_sdk,
     aws_s3,
     aws_sdk_transfer,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   cpp_args : cpp_args,
   install : true,
diff --git a/src/libutil/meson.build b/src/libutil/meson.build
index c37e7ae68..ade925bcf 100644
--- a/src/libutil/meson.build
+++ b/src/libutil/meson.build
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ libutil = library(
     libarchive,
     brotli,
     openssl,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   implicit_include_directories : true,
   install : true,
diff --git a/src/nix/meson.build b/src/nix/meson.build
index 2585ba3c3..61fc36c9c 100644
--- a/src/nix/meson.build
+++ b/src/nix/meson.build
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ nix = executable(
     liblixfetchers,
     liblixmain,
     boehm,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
   install : true,
   # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
diff --git a/tests/unit/meson.build b/tests/unit/meson.build
index a2e882098..a5523a813 100644
--- a/tests/unit/meson.build
+++ b/tests/unit/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ libutil_tester = executable(
     liblixutil,
     liblixexpr,
     liblixutil_test_support,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
 )
 
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ libstore_tester = executable(
     liblixutil,
     rapidcheck,
     gtest,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
 )
 
@@ -191,6 +193,7 @@ libexpr_tester = executable(
     rapidcheck,
     boehm,
     gtest,
+    nlohmann_json,
   ],
 )