diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ca51abfd8c..ae0aa62082 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -433,13 +433,10 @@ endif
 
 ICON_SIZES=16x16 24x24 32x32 48x48 64x64 128x128 256x256 512x512
 
-install-includedir:
-	$(INSTALL_DIR) "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)"
-
 # Needed by "meson install"
 export DESTDIR
 install: all $(if $(BUILD_DOCS),install-doc) \
-	install-datadir install-localstatedir install-includedir \
+	install-datadir install-localstatedir \
 	recurse-install
 ifdef CONFIG_TRACE_SYSTEMTAP
 	$(INSTALL_PROG) "scripts/qemu-trace-stap" $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)
@@ -465,9 +462,6 @@ endif
 		"$(DESTDIR)$(qemu_desktopdir)/qemu.desktop"
 ifdef CONFIG_GTK
 	$(MAKE) -C po $@
-endif
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLUGIN),y)
-	$(INSTALL_DATA) $(SRC_PATH)/include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h "$(DESTDIR)$(includedir)/qemu-plugin.h"
 endif
 	$(INSTALL_DIR) "$(DESTDIR)$(qemu_datadir)/keymaps"
 	set -e; for x in $(KEYMAPS); do \
diff --git a/Makefile.target b/Makefile.target
index c180b4cb38..2b7280b272 100644
--- a/Makefile.target
+++ b/Makefile.target
@@ -110,8 +110,6 @@ obj-y += trace/
 #########################################################
 LIBS := $(libs_cpu) $(LIBS)
 
-obj-$(CONFIG_PLUGIN) += plugins/
-
 #########################################################
 # Linux user emulator target
 
@@ -153,6 +151,16 @@ LIBS := $(LIBS) $(VDE_LIBS) $(SLIRP_LIBS)
 LIBS := $(LIBS) $(LIBUSB_LIBS) $(SMARTCARD_LIBS) $(USB_REDIR_LIBS)
 LIBS := $(LIBS) $(VIRGL_LIBS) $(CURSES_LIBS)
 
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_PLUGIN),y)
+ifdef CONFIG_HAS_LD_DYNAMIC_LIST
+LIBS += -Wl,--dynamic-list=$(BUILD_DIR)/qemu-plugins-ld.symbols
+else
+ifdef CONFIG_HAS_LD_EXPORTED_SYMBOLS_LIST
+LIBS += -Wl,-exported_symbols_list,$(BUILD_DIR)/qemu-plugins-ld64.symbols
+endif
+endif
+endif
+
 generated-files-y += hmp-commands.h hmp-commands-info.h
 
 endif # CONFIG_SOFTMMU
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5b1608df09..fa47410c29 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -731,6 +731,7 @@ subdir('net')
 subdir('replay')
 subdir('hw')
 subdir('accel')
+subdir('plugins')
 subdir('bsd-user')
 subdir('linux-user')
 
@@ -899,6 +900,10 @@ endforeach
 
 # Other build targets
 
+if 'CONFIG_PLUGIN' in config_host
+  install_headers('include/qemu/qemu-plugin.h')
+endif
+
 if 'CONFIG_GUEST_AGENT' in config_host
   subdir('qga')
 endif
diff --git a/plugins/Makefile.objs b/plugins/Makefile.objs
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f14d91ccb..0000000000
--- a/plugins/Makefile.objs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-#
-# Plugin Support
-#
-
-obj-y += loader.o
-obj-y += core.o
-obj-y += api.o
-
-# Abuse -libs suffix to only link with --dynamic-list/-exported_symbols_list
-# when the final binary includes the plugin object.
-#
-# Note that simply setting LDFLAGS is not enough: we build binaries that
-# never link plugin.o, and the linker might fail (at least ld64 does)
-# if the symbols in the list are not in the output binary.
-ifdef CONFIG_HAS_LD_DYNAMIC_LIST
-api.o-libs := -Wl,--dynamic-list=$(BUILD_DIR)/qemu-plugins-ld.symbols
-else
-ifdef CONFIG_HAS_LD_EXPORTED_SYMBOLS_LIST
-api.o-libs := -Wl,-exported_symbols_list,$(BUILD_DIR)/qemu-plugins-ld64.symbols
-endif
-endif
diff --git a/plugins/meson.build b/plugins/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9608e5293f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+specific_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_PLUGIN', if_true: [files(
+  'loader.c',
+  'core.c',
+  'api.c',
+)])