diff --git a/ui/meson.build b/ui/meson.build
index e89e298643..509739709e 100644
--- a/ui/meson.build
+++ b/ui/meson.build
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ softmmu_ss.add(files(
 softmmu_ss.add([spice_headers, files('spice-module.c')])
 
 softmmu_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_LINUX', if_true: files('input-linux.c'))
-softmmu_ss.add(when: [spice, 'CONFIG_SPICE'], if_true: files('spice-core.c', 'spice-input.c', 'spice-display.c'))
 softmmu_ss.add(when: cocoa, if_true: files('cocoa.m'))
 
 vnc_ss = ss.source_set()
@@ -71,6 +70,16 @@ if sdl.found()
   ui_modules += {'sdl' : sdl_ss}
 endif
 
+if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_SPICE')
+  spice_core_ss = ss.source_set()
+  spice_core_ss.add(spice, pixman, files(
+    'spice-core.c',
+    'spice-input.c',
+    'spice-display.c'
+  ))
+  ui_modules += {'spice-core' : spice_core_ss}
+endif
+
 if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_SPICE') and config_host.has_key('CONFIG_GIO')
   spice_ss = ss.source_set()
   spice_ss.add(spice, gio, pixman, files('spice-app.c'))