diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index bf52074bd2..94bbb4c757 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -88,6 +88,14 @@ if cpu in ['x86', 'x86_64']
   }
 endif
 
+edk2_targets = [ 'arm-softmmu', 'aarch64-softmmu', 'i386-softmmu', 'x86_64-softmmu' ]
+install_edk2_blobs = false
+if get_option('install_blobs')
+  foreach target : target_dirs
+    install_edk2_blobs = install_edk2_blobs or target in edk2_targets
+  endforeach
+endif
+
 ##################
 # Compiler flags #
 ##################
diff --git a/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build b/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
index 7040834573..ac6ec66b00 100644
--- a/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
+++ b/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
-foreach f: [
-  '50-edk2-i386-secure.json',
-  '50-edk2-x86_64-secure.json',
-  '60-edk2-aarch64.json',
-  '60-edk2-arm.json',
-  '60-edk2-i386.json',
-  '60-edk2-x86_64.json'
-]
-  configure_file(input: files(f),
-                 output: f,
-                 configuration: {'DATADIR': qemu_datadir},
-                 install: get_option('install_blobs'),
-                 install_dir: qemu_datadir / 'firmware')
-endforeach
+if install_edk2_blobs
+  foreach f: [
+    '50-edk2-i386-secure.json',
+    '50-edk2-x86_64-secure.json',
+    '60-edk2-aarch64.json',
+    '60-edk2-arm.json',
+    '60-edk2-i386.json',
+    '60-edk2-x86_64.json'
+  ]
+    configure_file(input: files(f),
+                   output: f,
+                   configuration: {'DATADIR': qemu_datadir},
+                   install: get_option('install_blobs'),
+                   install_dir: qemu_datadir / 'firmware')
+  endforeach
+endif
diff --git a/pc-bios/meson.build b/pc-bios/meson.build
index fab323af84..6a341b6cea 100644
--- a/pc-bios/meson.build
+++ b/pc-bios/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-if 'arm-softmmu' in target_dirs or \
-    'aarch64-softmmu' in target_dirs or \
-    'i386-softmmu' in target_dirs or \
-    'x86_64-softmmu' in target_dirs
+if install_edk2_blobs
   bzip2 = find_program('bzip2', required: true)
   fds = [
     'edk2-aarch64-code.fd',