diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index dfb4c6bb..3dfe21de 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ if ['linux', 'cygwin', 'gnu'].contains(host_machine.system())
   pre_args += '-DHAVE_PTHREAD'
 endif
 
+if get_option('glibcxx_asserts')
+  pre_args += '-D_GLIBCXX_ASSERTIONS'
+endif
+
 # Check for GCC style atomics
 if cc.compiles('''#include <stdint.h>
                   int main() {
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cf87a716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+option('glibcxx_asserts', type : 'boolean', value : false)