diff --git a/app/actions/meson.build b/app/actions/meson.build
index 263c1d5c3a..50a83d8bb0 100644
--- a/app/actions/meson.build
+++ b/app/actions/meson.build
@@ -101,6 +101,6 @@ libappactions = static_library('appactions',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Actions"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gtk3,
+    gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gtk3, gexiv2,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/config/meson.build b/app/config/meson.build
index 8a888181da..362cbefedc 100644
--- a/app/config/meson.build
+++ b/app/config/meson.build
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ libappconfig = static_library('appconfig',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Config"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gio, gio_specific, libmypaint,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, gio, gio_specific, libmypaint,
   ],
 )
 
diff --git a/app/display/meson.build b/app/display/meson.build
index 63cc40eca8..c8450bfddd 100644
--- a/app/display/meson.build
+++ b/app/display/meson.build
@@ -122,6 +122,6 @@ libappdisplay = static_library('appdisplay',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Display"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3, cairo,
+    gegl, gtk3, cairo, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/file-data/meson.build b/app/file-data/meson.build
index 4235b58aa7..9489eda9fb 100644
--- a/app/file-data/meson.build
+++ b/app/file-data/meson.build
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ libappfiledata = static_library('appfiledata',
     cairo,
     gdk_pixbuf,
     gegl,
+    gexiv2,
     libarchive,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/file/meson.build b/app/file/meson.build
index 5ed43957f2..c572f44cd5 100644
--- a/app/file/meson.build
+++ b/app/file/meson.build
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ libappfile = static_library('appfile',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-File"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/gegl/meson.build b/app/gegl/meson.build
index 9f12dbdfec..dc60951929 100644
--- a/app/gegl/meson.build
+++ b/app/gegl/meson.build
@@ -56,5 +56,6 @@ libappgegl = static_library('appgegl',
     cairo,
     gegl,
     gdk_pixbuf,
+    gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/gui/meson.build b/app/gui/meson.build
index e4dbc57718..dc87159ad1 100644
--- a/app/gui/meson.build
+++ b/app/gui/meson.build
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ libappgui = static_library('appgui',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-GUI"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gio_specific, gtk3
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, gio_specific, gtk3
   ],
   install: false,
 )
diff --git a/app/menus/meson.build b/app/menus/meson.build
index f0d6db9ebb..8f728e4d78 100644
--- a/app/menus/meson.build
+++ b/app/menus/meson.build
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ libappmenus = static_library('appmenus',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Menus"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/operations/layer-modes-legacy/meson.build b/app/operations/layer-modes-legacy/meson.build
index 58a0dd3bb6..8a5722824b 100644
--- a/app/operations/layer-modes-legacy/meson.build
+++ b/app/operations/layer-modes-legacy/meson.build
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@ libapplayermodeslegacy = static_library('applayermodeslegacy',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Layer-Modes-Legacy"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/operations/layer-modes/meson.build b/app/operations/layer-modes/meson.build
index 76c78db38f..eeb93a5718 100644
--- a/app/operations/layer-modes/meson.build
+++ b/app/operations/layer-modes/meson.build
@@ -50,5 +50,6 @@ libapplayermodes = static_library('applayermodes',
     cairo,
     gegl,
     gdk_pixbuf,
+    gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/operations/meson.build b/app/operations/meson.build
index 14f210b989..7b6194d8cd 100644
--- a/app/operations/meson.build
+++ b/app/operations/meson.build
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ libappoperations = static_library('appoperations',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Operations"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2
   ],
 )
 
diff --git a/app/paint/meson.build b/app/paint/meson.build
index fc5328fa86..5b0c5d406e 100644
--- a/app/paint/meson.build
+++ b/app/paint/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,6 @@ libapppaint = static_library('apppaint',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Paint"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, libmypaint,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, libmypaint,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/path/meson.build b/app/path/meson.build
index 7020049ff6..00a75e1ec6 100644
--- a/app/path/meson.build
+++ b/app/path/meson.build
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ libapppath = static_library('apppath',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Path"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/pdb/meson.build b/app/pdb/meson.build
index e72bdb6d24..3317b118f3 100644
--- a/app/pdb/meson.build
+++ b/app/pdb/meson.build
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ libapppdb = static_library('apppdb',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-PDB"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2
   ],
 )
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ libappinternalprocs = static_library('appinternalprocs',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-PDB"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, pangocairo, pango,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, pangocairo, pango,
   ],
   sources: [
     pdbgen
diff --git a/app/plug-in/meson.build b/app/plug-in/meson.build
index 49318b44de..00d1661e57 100644
--- a/app/plug-in/meson.build
+++ b/app/plug-in/meson.build
@@ -56,6 +56,6 @@ libappplugin = static_library('appplug-in',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Plug-In"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf,
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/propgui/meson.build b/app/propgui/meson.build
index 2e9cc30f5d..432e865d70 100644
--- a/app/propgui/meson.build
+++ b/app/propgui/meson.build
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@ libapppropgui = static_library('apppropgui',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-PropGUI"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3,
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/text/meson.build b/app/text/meson.build
index 8b1605657c..82104cb4ce 100644
--- a/app/text/meson.build
+++ b/app/text/meson.build
@@ -42,6 +42,6 @@ libapptext = static_library('apptext',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Text"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gdk_pixbuf, harfbuzz, pangocairo, pangoft2,
+    gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, harfbuzz, pangocairo, pangoft2,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/tools/meson.build b/app/tools/meson.build
index f40809f073..91e976c6fd 100644
--- a/app/tools/meson.build
+++ b/app/tools/meson.build
@@ -143,6 +143,6 @@ libapptools = static_library('apptools',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Tools"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3,
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/widgets/meson.build b/app/widgets/meson.build
index 274b7f356a..d4f10287f5 100644
--- a/app/widgets/meson.build
+++ b/app/widgets/meson.build
@@ -280,6 +280,6 @@ libappwidgets = static_library('appwidgets',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-Widgets"',
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3,
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2,
   ],
 )
diff --git a/app/xcf/meson.build b/app/xcf/meson.build
index 44198e92dc..7b621f2e2a 100644
--- a/app/xcf/meson.build
+++ b/app/xcf/meson.build
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ libappxcf = static_library('appxcf',
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, rootAppInclude, ],
   c_args: '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="Gimp-XCF"',
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, zlib
+    cairo, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, gexiv2, zlib
   ],
 )
diff --git a/extensions/goat-exercises/meson.build b/extensions/goat-exercises/meson.build
index 35293117ab..3006624eca 100644
--- a/extensions/goat-exercises/meson.build
+++ b/extensions/goat-exercises/meson.build
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ if have_vala and have_gobject_introspection
     'goat-exercise-vala.vala',
     include_directories: [ rootInclude, ],
     dependencies: [
-      libgimp_vapi, libgimpui_vapi, gtk3, gegl, math,
+      libgimp_vapi, libgimpui_vapi, libgimpui_dep, math,
     ],
     c_args: [
       '-DGETTEXT_PACKAGE="@0@"'.format('org.gimp.extension.goat-exercises'),
diff --git a/libgimp/meson.build b/libgimp/meson.build
index 515b8c1cc1..e6a5d36a40 100644
--- a/libgimp/meson.build
+++ b/libgimp/meson.build
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ libgimp_dep = declare_dependency(
     cairo,
     gdk_pixbuf,
     gegl,
+    gexiv2,
   ],
   link_with: [
     libgimp,
@@ -438,7 +439,6 @@ libgimpui = library('gimpui-'+ gimp_api_version,
   libgimpui_sources,
   dependencies: [
     libgimp_dep,
-    gexiv2,
     gtk3,
   ],
   sources: [
diff --git a/libgimpcolor/meson.build b/libgimpcolor/meson.build
index bbaeef2333..370bef3829 100644
--- a/libgimpcolor/meson.build
+++ b/libgimpcolor/meson.build
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ libgimpcolor = library('gimpcolor-' + gimp_api_version,
   libgimpcolor_sources,
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gdk_pixbuf, gegl, lcms, math,
+    cairo, gdk_pixbuf, gegl, gexiv2, lcms, math,
   ],
   c_args: [ '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="LibGimpColor"', '-DGIMP_COLOR_COMPILATION', ],
   link_with: [ libgimpbase, ],
diff --git a/libgimpconfig/meson.build b/libgimpconfig/meson.build
index 4199d638c3..c194489fc5 100644
--- a/libgimpconfig/meson.build
+++ b/libgimpconfig/meson.build
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ libgimpconfig = library('gimpconfig-' + gimp_api_version,
   libgimpconfig_sources,
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    cairo, gdk_pixbuf, gegl, gio, gio_specific,
+    cairo, gdk_pixbuf, gegl, gexiv2, gio, gio_specific,
   ],
   c_args: [ '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="LibGimpConfig"', '-DGIMP_CONFIG_COMPILATION', ],
   link_with: [
diff --git a/libgimpmodule/meson.build b/libgimpmodule/meson.build
index babfe16460..27c9222c4a 100644
--- a/libgimpmodule/meson.build
+++ b/libgimpmodule/meson.build
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ libgimpmodule = library('gimpmodule-' + gimp_api_version,
   libgimpmodule_sources,
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gio, glib, gmodule,
+    gegl, gexiv2, gio, glib, gmodule,
   ],
   c_args: [ '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="LibGimpModule"', '-DGIMP_MODULE_COMPILATION', ],
   link_with: [
diff --git a/libgimpthumb/meson.build b/libgimpthumb/meson.build
index 7a34efd271..957409be08 100644
--- a/libgimpthumb/meson.build
+++ b/libgimpthumb/meson.build
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ libgimpthumb = library('gimpthumb-'+ gimp_api_version,
   libgimpthumb_sources,
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, glib, gobject, gdk_pixbuf, gio,
+    gegl, gexiv2, glib, gobject, gdk_pixbuf, gio,
   ],
   c_args: [ '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="LibGimpThumb"', '-DGIMP_THUMB_COMPILATION', ],
   link_with:  [
diff --git a/libgimpwidgets/meson.build b/libgimpwidgets/meson.build
index e348bc31e2..7f63462809 100644
--- a/libgimpwidgets/meson.build
+++ b/libgimpwidgets/meson.build
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ libgimpwidgets = library('gimpwidgets-'+ gimp_api_version,
   libgimpwidgets_sources,
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3, lcms, math, mscms
+    gegl, gexiv2, gtk3, lcms, math, mscms
   ],
   c_args: [ '-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="LibGimpWidgets"', '-DGIMP_WIDGETS_COMPILATION', ],
   link_with: [
diff --git a/modules/meson.build b/modules/meson.build
index 14e2c3b2d8..78a04d843f 100644
--- a/modules/meson.build
+++ b/modules/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 modules_deps = [
-  gtk3, babl, gegl, math,
+  gtk3, babl, gegl, gexiv2, math,
 ]
 
 color_selector_libs = [
diff --git a/plug-ins/common/meson.build b/plug-ins/common/meson.build
index e286a08e5b..4493c344c7 100644
--- a/plug-ins/common/meson.build
+++ b/plug-ins/common/meson.build
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ common_plugins_list = [
   { 'name': 'colormap-remap', },
   { 'name': 'compose', },
   { 'name': 'contrast-retinex', },
-  { 'name': 'crop-zealous',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, cairo, ],
-  },
+  { 'name': 'crop-zealous' },
   { 'name': 'curve-bend', },
   { 'name': 'decompose', },
   { 'name': 'depth-merge', },
@@ -20,7 +18,7 @@ common_plugins_list = [
   { 'name': 'destripe', },
   { 'name': 'file-cel', },
   { 'name': 'file-compressor',
-    'deps': [ gegl, gdk_pixbuf, cairo, gio, libarchive, liblzma, pango, bz2, zlib, ],
+    'deps': [ gio, libarchive, liblzma, pango, bz2, zlib, ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-csource', },
   { 'name': 'file-dicom', },
@@ -28,34 +26,32 @@ common_plugins_list = [
   { 'name': 'file-gbr', },
   { 'name': 'file-gegl', },
   { 'name': 'file-gif-load',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, cairo, zlib, ],
+    'deps': [ zlib, ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-gif-export', },
   { 'name': 'file-gih', },
-  { 'name': 'file-glob',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, cairo,  ],
-  },
+  { 'name': 'file-glob', },
   { 'name': 'file-header', },
   { 'name': 'file-html-table', },
   { 'name': 'file-paa', },
   { 'name': 'file-pat', },
   { 'name': 'file-pcx', },
   { 'name': 'file-pdf-load',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, poppler ],
+    'deps': [ poppler ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-pix', },
   { 'name': 'file-png',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, libpng, lcms ],
+    'deps': [ libpng, lcms ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-pnm', },
   { 'name': 'file-psp',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, zlib, ],
+    'deps': [ zlib, ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-raw-data', },
   { 'name': 'file-seattle-filmworks', },
   { 'name': 'file-sunras', },
   { 'name': 'file-svg',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, rsvg, ],
+    'deps': [ rsvg, ],
   },
   { 'name': 'file-tga', },
   { 'name': 'file-tim', },
@@ -88,26 +84,26 @@ common_plugins_list = [
 if libaa.found()
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-aa',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, libaa, ],
+    'deps': [ libaa, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if have_heif
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-heif',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, libheif, gexiv2, lcms, ],
+    'deps': [ libheif, lcms, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if openjpeg.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-jp2',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, openjpeg, ],
+    'deps': [ openjpeg, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if libjxl.found() and libjxl_threads.found()
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-jpegxl',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gexiv2, libjxl, libjxl_threads, ],
+    'deps': [ libjxl, libjxl_threads, ],
   }
 endif
 
@@ -117,57 +113,55 @@ if libmng.found()
     mng_cflags = [ '-DMNG_USE_DLL' ]
   endif
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-mng',
-                           'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, libmng, libpng, ],
+                           'deps': [ libmng, libpng, ],
                            'cflags': mng_cflags,
   }
 endif
 
 if cairopdf.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-pdf-export',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, poppler, cairo, cairopdf ],
+    'deps': [ poppler, cairopdf ],
   }
 endif
 
 if ghostscript.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-ps',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, ghostscript, ],
+    'deps': [ ghostscript, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if wmf.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-wmf',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, wmf, ],
+    'deps': [ wmf, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if xmc.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-xmc',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, xmc, ],
+    'deps': [ xmc, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if libxpm.found()
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'file-xpm',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, libxpm, ],
+    'deps': [ libxpm, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if have_qoi
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-qoi',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, ],
   }
 endif
 
 if libiff.found() and libilbm.found()
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-iff',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, libiff, libilbm, ],
+    'deps': [ libiff, libilbm, ],
   }
 elif have_ilbm
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-iff',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, ],
   }
 endif
 
@@ -178,7 +172,6 @@ endif
 if platform_linux
   common_plugins_list += {
     'name': 'file-desktop-link',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, cairo, ],
   }
 endif
 if not platform_windows
@@ -187,7 +180,7 @@ endif
 
 if get_option('webkit-unmaintained')
   common_plugins_list += { 'name': 'web-page',
-    'deps': [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, webkit, ],
+    'deps': [ webkit, ],
   }
 endif
 
@@ -195,7 +188,7 @@ plugin_custom_targets = []
 foreach plugin : common_plugins_list
   plugin_name = plugin.get('name')
   plugin_sources = [ plugin.get('sources', plugin_name + '.c') ]
-  plugin_deps = plugin.get('deps', [ gtk3, gegl, gdk_pixbuf, ])
+  plugin_deps = plugin.get('deps', [])
   plugin_cflags = plugin.get('cflags', [])
 
   if platform_windows
@@ -241,7 +234,7 @@ foreach plugin : common_plugins_list
                             libgimpui,
                             libgimpwidgets,
                           ],
-                          dependencies: [ plugin_deps, math ],
+                          dependencies: [ plugin_deps, math, libgimpui_dep ],
                           c_args: plugin_cflags,
                           win_subsystem: 'windows',
                           install: true,
diff --git a/plug-ins/help/meson.build b/plug-ins/help/meson.build
index e7d689d607..09e3d7fc73 100644
--- a/plug-ins/help/meson.build
+++ b/plug-ins/help/meson.build
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ help_plugin_lib = static_library('help_plugin',
   plugin_sources,
   include_directories: [ rootInclude, ],
   dependencies: [
-    gtk3, gegl, cairo, gio, gdk_pixbuf,
+    libgimpui_dep, gio,
   ],
   install: false,
 )
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index 5fa54495e9..e7b32cd6b0 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ gimptool = executable('gimptool' + exec_ver,
   'gimptool.c',
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3,
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2
   ],
   link_with: [
     libgimpbase,
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ gimp_test_clipboard = executable('gimp-test-clipboard' + exec_ver,
   'gimp-test-clipboard.c',
   include_directories: rootInclude,
   dependencies: [
-    gegl, gtk3,
+    gegl, gtk3, gexiv2
   ],
   install: true,
 )