diff --git a/examples/meson.build b/examples/meson.build
index 8adc1a7..cf34ce4 100644
--- a/examples/meson.build
+++ b/examples/meson.build
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
-executable('example', 'live-chart.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-fixed-max', 'fixed-max.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-hide-parts', 'hide-parts.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-configure-labels', 'configure-labels.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-remove-serie', 'remove-serie.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-replace-chart', 'replace-chart.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-static-renderer', 'static-renderer.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-static-chart', 'static-chart.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
-executable('example-usec', 'live-chart-usec.vala', dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep])
+examples = [
+  # [target name, [sources...]]
+  ['example', ['live-chart.vala']],
+  ['example-fixed-max', ['fixed-max.vala']],
+  ['example-hide-parts', ['hide-parts.vala']],
+  ['example-configure-labels', ['configure-labels.vala']],
+  ['example-remove-serie', ['remove-serie.vala']],
+  ['example-replace-chart', ['replace-chart.vala']],
+  ['example-static-renderer', ['static-renderer.vala']],
+  ['example-static-chart', ['static-chart.vala']],
+  ['example-usec', ['live-chart-usec.vala']],
+]
+
+foreach example : examples
+  executable(example[0],
+    example[1],
+    dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep],
+    build_by_default: false
+  )
+endforeach
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index b5e1dda..d877461 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -30,5 +30,13 @@ test_sources = files(
 )
 
 vala_args += ['--enable-deprecated']
-test('livechart-test', executable('livechart-test', test_sources, vala_args: vala_args, dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep]))
+test('livechart-test',
+  executable(
+    'livechart-test',
+    test_sources,
+    vala_args: vala_args,
+    dependencies: deps + [livechart_dep],
+    build_by_default: false
+  )
+)