diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index 029f4f4536..8d045fa5bc 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -7234,7 +7234,10 @@ (define-public gjs
                     (("☭") ""))))))
     (build-system meson-build-system)
     (arguments
-     '(#:configure-flags '("-Dinstalled_tests=false")
+     ;; Use meson-0.59, otherwise we'd get "ERROR: "install_dir" must be
+     ;; specified when installing a target".
+     `(#:meson ,meson-0.59
+       #:configure-flags '("-Dinstalled_tests=false")
        #:phases
        (modify-phases %standard-phases
          (add-before 'check 'pre-check