diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 95b32f5..742e6d7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ jobs:
           submodules: true
 
       - name: Build sdist
-        run: pipx run build --sdist
+        run: pipx run build --sdist -Dsdist_mode=true
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2fa6d2a..21e5722 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -43,9 +43,10 @@ else
     endif
 endif
 
-# Since nothing above was required, we stop here if failed
-if not blas_deps[0].found()
-    error('OpenBLAS or Netlib BLAS/CBLAS is required on all platforms except Windows, and was not found.')
+# Since nothing above was required, we stop here if failed.
+# When creating an sdist we are not compiling / linking, so don't need to fail.
+if not blas_deps[0].found() and not get_option('sdist_mode'):
+    error('OpenBLAS or Netlib BLAS/CBLAS is required on all platforms, and was not found.')
 endif
 
 fs = import('fs')
diff --git a/meson.options b/meson.options
index ba840d4..79b5678 100644
--- a/meson.options
+++ b/meson.options
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ option('link_blas_statically', type: 'boolean',
        value: false, description: 'copy BLAS compiled object into SCS module(s)')
 option('link_mkl', type: 'boolean',
        value: false, description: 'link to mkl-rt library')
+option('sdist_mode', type: 'boolean', value: false,
+       description: 'Set to true if building an sdist')