diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c430367..9c94f8b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -268,6 +268,27 @@ else
   ]
 endif
 
+luaold_interpreters = [
+  ['lua',     ['>=5.1.0','<5.3.0']],
+  ['lua51',   ['>=5.1.0','<5.2.0']],
+  ['lua-5.1', ['>=5.1.0','<5.2.0']],
+  ['lua5.1',  ['>=5.1.0','<5.2.0']],
+  ['lua52',   ['>=5.2.0','<5.3.0']],
+  ['lua-5.2', ['>=5.2.0','<5.3.0']],
+  ['lua5.2',  ['>=5.2.0','<5.3.0']],
+]
+
+if get_option('lua-interpreter') == 'lua'
+  foreach l : luaold_interpreters
+    lua = dependency(l[0], version: l[1], required:false)
+    if lua.found() == true
+      break
+    endif
+  endforeach
+else
+  lua = dependency(get_option('lua-interpreter'))
+endif
+
 subprojects = [
 # name              |   option              | mod  | lib  | bin  | bench | tests | examples | pkg-config options | name of static libs
 ['evil'             ,[]                    , false,  true, false, false, false, false, [], []],
@@ -306,7 +327,7 @@ subprojects = [
 ['efreet'           ,[]                    , false, false,  true, false, false, false, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo'], []],
 ['ecore_imf_evas'   ,[]                    , false,  true, false, false, false, false, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo'], []],
 ['ephysics'         ,['physics']           , false,  true, false, false, false, false, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo'], []],
-['edje'             ,[]                    , false,  true,  true, false,  true,  true, ['evas', 'eo', 'efl', get_option('lua-interpreter')], []],
+['edje'             ,[]                    , false,  true,  true, false,  true,  true, ['evas', 'eo', 'efl', lua], []],
 ['emotion'          ,[]                    ,  true,  true, false, false,  true,  true, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo'], []],
 ['ethumb'           ,[]                    ,  true,  true,  true, false, false, false, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo'], []],
 ['ethumb_client'    ,[]                    , false,  true,  true, false, false,  true, ['eina', 'efl', 'eo', 'ethumb'], []],