diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index db4c8f0..37f3c1e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ wren_dep = dependency('wren', version: '>=0.2.0',
 	'default_library=static',
 	'build_testing=false',
 	'wren_with_cli=false',
-	'wren_installable=false',
   ],
   static: true,
 )
diff --git a/subprojects/wren/meson.build b/subprojects/wren/meson.build
index 943409b..d3825bf 100644
--- a/subprojects/wren/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/wren/meson.build
@@ -38,13 +38,24 @@ module_src = [
   'wren/src/module/scheduler.c',
 ]
 
-wren = library(meson.project_name(),
-  opt_src,
-  vm_src,
-  include_directories: [wren_incl, wren_pvt_incl],
-  dependencies: [threads_dep, m_dep],
-  install: get_option('wren_installable'),
-)
+force_static = meson.is_subproject()
+if force_static
+  wren = static_library(meson.project_name(),
+	opt_src,
+	vm_src,
+	include_directories: [wren_incl, wren_pvt_incl],
+	dependencies: [threads_dep, m_dep],
+	install: not force_static,
+  )
+else
+  wren = library(meson.project_name(),
+	opt_src,
+	vm_src,
+	include_directories: [wren_incl, wren_pvt_incl],
+	dependencies: [threads_dep, m_dep],
+	install: not force_static,
+  )
+endif
 wren_dep = declare_dependency(
   include_directories: [wren_incl],
   link_with: wren,
@@ -57,7 +68,7 @@ if get_option('wren_with_cli')
 	'wren/src/cli/modules.c',
 	'wren/src/cli/vm.c',
 	module_src,
-	install: get_option('wren_installable'),
+	install: not force_static,
 	include_directories: [cli_incl, module_incl],
 	dependencies: [wren_dep, libuv_dep],
 	c_args: ['-D_XOPEN_SOURCE=600'],
@@ -117,7 +128,7 @@ if get_option('build_testing')
   test(meson.project_name() + ' unit test', test_unit)
 endif
 
-if get_option('wren_installable')
+if not force_static
   install_headers(
 	'wren/src/include/wren.h',
 	'wren/src/include/wren.hpp',
diff --git a/subprojects/wren/meson_options.txt b/subprojects/wren/meson_options.txt
index 143e01a..9e7a81f 100644
--- a/subprojects/wren/meson_options.txt
+++ b/subprojects/wren/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 option('build_testing', type: 'boolean', value: false)
 option('wren_with_cli', type: 'boolean', value: true)
-option('wren_installable', type: 'boolean', value: true)