diff --git a/src/core/meson.build b/src/core/meson.build
index 1c364a53e2d..728e2f08076 100644
--- a/src/core/meson.build
+++ b/src/core/meson.build
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ foreach item : in_files
                 output: file,
                 command : [meson_render_jinja2, config_h, '@INPUT@'],
                 capture : true,
-                install : dir != 'no',
+                install : (dir == pkgsysconfdir and install_sysconfdir_samples) or (dir != pkgsysconfdir and dir != 'no'),
                 install_dir : dir)
 endforeach