diff --git a/python/build/meson.py b/python/build/meson.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..05abb694c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/build/meson.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import os.path, subprocess, sys
+
+from build.project import Project
+
+class MesonProject(Project):
+    def __init__(self, url, md5, installed, configure_args=[],
+                 **kwargs):
+        Project.__init__(self, url, md5, installed, **kwargs)
+        self.configure_args = configure_args
+
+    def _make_cross_file(self, toolchain):
+        if toolchain.is_windows:
+            system = 'windows'
+        else:
+            system = 'linux'
+
+        if toolchain.is_arm:
+            cpu_family = 'arm'
+            if toolchain.is_armv7:
+                cpu = 'armv7'
+            else:
+                cpu = 'armv6'
+        else:
+            cpu_family = 'x86'
+            if 'x86_64' in toolchain.arch:
+                cpu = 'x86_64'
+            else:
+                cpu = 'i686'
+
+        # TODO: support more CPUs
+        endian = 'little'
+
+        # TODO: write pkg-config wrapper
+
+        path = os.path.join(toolchain.build_path, 'meson.cross')
+        with open(path, 'w') as f:
+            f.write("""
+[binaries]
+c = '%s'
+cpp = '%s'
+ar = '%s'
+strip = '%s'
+
+[properties]
+root = '%s'
+
+c_args = %s
+c_link_args = %s
+
+cpp_args = %s
+cpp_link_args = %s
+
+[host_machine]
+system = '%s'
+cpu_family = '%s'
+cpu = '%s'
+endian = '%s'
+            """ % (toolchain.cc, toolchain.cxx, toolchain.ar, toolchain.strip,
+                   toolchain.install_prefix,
+                   repr((toolchain.cppflags + ' ' + toolchain.cflags).split()),
+                   repr(toolchain.ldflags.split()),
+                   repr((toolchain.cppflags + ' ' + toolchain.cxxflags).split()),
+                   repr(toolchain.ldflags.split()),
+                   system, cpu_family, cpu, endian))
+        return path
+
+    def configure(self, toolchain):
+        src = self.unpack(toolchain)
+        cross_file = self._make_cross_file(toolchain)
+        build = self.make_build_path(toolchain)
+        configure = [
+            'meson',
+            src, build,
+
+            '--prefix', toolchain.install_prefix,
+
+            # this is necessary because Meson uses Debian's build machine
+            # MultiArch path (e.g. "lib/x86_64-linux-gnu") for cross
+            # builds, which is obviously wrong
+            '--libdir', 'lib',
+
+            '--buildtype', 'plain',
+
+            '--default-library=static',
+
+            '--cross-file', cross_file,
+        ] + self.configure_args
+
+        subprocess.check_call(configure, env=toolchain.env)
+        return build
+
+    def build(self, toolchain):
+        build = self.configure(toolchain)
+        subprocess.check_call(['ninja', 'install'],
+                              cwd=build, env=toolchain.env)