diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9d43e0ad326eab31e4b1b39d4872776ffeff1407..a73194416adeac577574d39bdcce9e66e4e77316 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ emper_dependencies = [thread_dep, uring_dep]
 
 boost_thread_dep = dependency('boost', modules : ['thread'], required: false)
 
+tools_dir = join_paths(meson.source_root(), 'tools')
+
 run_target('iwyu',
-		   command: 'tools/check-iwyu')
+		   command: join_paths(tools_dir, 'check-iwyu'))
 
 conf_data = configuration_data()
 option_urcu = get_option('userspace_rcu')