diff --git a/srcpkgs/libmypaint/template b/srcpkgs/libmypaint/template
index 2a641a45924..3b33019bde6 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/libmypaint/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/libmypaint/template
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ version=1.3.0
 revision=1
 build_style=gnu-configure
 configure_args="--disable-gegl"
-hostmakedepends="intltool pkg-config"
-makedepends="json-c-devel gobject-introspection glib-devel json-glib-devel"
+hostmakedepends="intltool pkg-config $(vopt_if gir gobject-introspection)"
+makedepends="json-c-devel glib-devel json-glib-devel"
 short_desc="MyPaint brush engine library"
 maintainer="Kartik S <kartik.ynwa@gmail.com>"
 license="ISC"
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ homepage="https://github.com/mypaint/libmypaint"
 distfiles="https://github.com/mypaint/libmypaint/releases/download/v${version}/libmypaint-${version}.tar.xz"
 checksum=6a07d9d57fea60f68d218a953ce91b168975a003db24de6ac01ad69dcc94a671
 
+build_options="gir"
+if [ -z "$CROSS_BUILD" ]; then
+	build_options_default+=" gir"
+fi
+
 libmypaint-devel_package() {
 	depends="${makedepends} ${sourcepkg}>=${version}_${revision}"
 	short_desc+=" - development files"