diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9679059747..a42159f804 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -654,13 +654,8 @@ else
 endif
 
 libpng_minver = '1.6.25'
-libpng = dependency('libpng', version: '>='+libpng_minver,
-  required: get_option('png')
-)
-if libpng.found()
-  MIMEtypes += [ 'image/png', 'image/x-icon']
-endif
-
+libpng = dependency('libpng', version: '>='+libpng_minver)
+MIMEtypes += [ 'image/png', 'image/x-icon']
 
 libmng = cc.find_library('mng', required: get_option('mng'))
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index d8df7a6276..f603708756 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ option('jpeg2000',          type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Jpeg-2
 option('jpeg-xl',           type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'JPEG XL support')
 option('mng',               type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Mng support')
 option('openexr',           type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Openexr support')
-option('png',               type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'PNG support')
 option('print',             type: 'boolean', value: true,   description: 'Print support')
 option('webkit-unmaintained',type: 'boolean', value: false,  description: 'Help browser and webpage plugins (unmaintained)')
 option('webp',              type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'Webp support')