diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 285d3a3d..54012389 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -122,12 +122,12 @@ if not get_option('buildtype').startswith('debug')
   ]
 endif
 
-foreach arg: test_link_args
-  if cc.has_argument(arg)
-    global_link_args += arg
+foreach link_arg: test_link_args
+  if cc.links('int main () { return 0; }', name: link_arg, args: link_arg)
+    global_link_args += link_arg
   endif
 endforeach
-add_global_link_arguments(global_link_args, language: 'c')
+add_project_link_arguments(global_link_args, language: 'c')
 
 if not cc.links('''
 #include <stdatomic.h>