diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 7bdbbbdf02..fbdab3063b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -106,14 +106,14 @@ if targetos != 'darwin'
 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
-
-bzip2 = find_program('bzip2', required: install_edk2_blobs)
+unpack_edk2_blobs = false
+foreach target : edk2_targets
+  if target in target_dirs
+    bzip2 = find_program('bzip2', required: get_option('install_blobs'))
+    unpack_edk2_blobs = bzip2.found()
+    break
+  endif
+endforeach
 
 ##################
 # Compiler flags #
diff --git a/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build b/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
index 29efa16d99..66f85d01c4 100644
--- a/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
+++ b/pc-bios/descriptors/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if install_edk2_blobs
+if unpack_edk2_blobs and get_option('install_blobs')
   foreach f: [
     '50-edk2-i386-secure.json',
     '50-edk2-x86_64-secure.json',
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if install_edk2_blobs
     configure_file(input: files(f),
                    output: f,
                    configuration: {'DATADIR': get_option('prefix') / qemu_datadir},
-                   install: get_option('install_blobs'),
+                   install: true,
                    install_dir: qemu_datadir / 'firmware')
   endforeach
 endif
diff --git a/pc-bios/meson.build b/pc-bios/meson.build
index f2b32598af..a3b3d87891 100644
--- a/pc-bios/meson.build
+++ b/pc-bios/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-if install_edk2_blobs
+if unpack_edk2_blobs
   fds = [
     'edk2-aarch64-code.fd',
     'edk2-arm-code.fd',