diff --git a/mesonbuild/mtest.py b/mesonbuild/mtest.py
index 4cbaedba88eb..32c70b2835f9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mtest.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mtest.py
@@ -1972,6 +1972,11 @@ def convert_path_to_target(path: str) -> str:
             depends.update(d)
             targets.update(intro_targets[d])
 
+    if tests and not targets:
+        # We want to build minimal deps, but if the subset of targets have no
+        # deps then ninja falls back to 'all'.
+        return True
+
     ret = subprocess.run(ninja + ['-C', wd] + sorted(targets)).returncode
     if ret != 0:
         print(f'Could not rebuild {wd}')
diff --git a/unittests/platformagnostictests.py b/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
index bb6a14f6cb46..dd360663e49d 100644
--- a/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
+++ b/unittests/platformagnostictests.py
@@ -92,4 +92,8 @@ def test_mtest_rebuild_deps(self):
         self._run(self.mtest_command)
         self.clean()
 
+        with self.assertRaises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
+            self._run(self.mtest_command + ['runner-without-dep'])
+        self.clean()
+
         self._run(self.mtest_command + ['runner-with-exedep'])