diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 81058e1..fb6f658 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -149,6 +149,18 @@ libsqlitecpp = library(
     # install: true,
     # API version for SQLiteCpp shared library.
     version: '0',)
+if get_option('SQLITECPP_BUILD_TESTS')
+    # for the unit tests we need to link against a static version of SQLiteCpp
+    libsqlitecpp_static = static_library(
+        'sqlitecpp_static',
+        sqlitecpp_srcs,
+        include_directories: sqlitecpp_incl,
+        cpp_args: sqlitecpp_args,
+        dependencies: sqlitecpp_deps,
+        # override the default options
+        override_options: sqlitecpp_opts,)
+        # static libraries do not have a version
+endif
 
 install_headers(
     'include/SQLiteCpp/SQLiteCpp.h',
@@ -167,6 +179,14 @@ sqlitecpp_dep = declare_dependency(
     include_directories: sqlitecpp_incl,
     link_with: libsqlitecpp,
 )
+if get_option('SQLITECPP_BUILD_TESTS')
+    ## make the dependency static so the unit tests can link against it
+    ## (mainly for windows as the symbols are not exported by default)
+    sqlitecpp_static_dep = declare_dependency(
+        include_directories: sqlitecpp_incl,
+        link_with: libsqlitecpp_static,
+    )
+endif
 
 if get_option('SQLITECPP_BUILD_TESTS')
     gtest_dep = dependency(
@@ -175,7 +195,7 @@ if get_option('SQLITECPP_BUILD_TESTS')
                 fallback: ['gtest', 'gtest_dep'])
     sqlitecpp_test_dependencies = [
         gtest_dep,
-        sqlitecpp_dep,
+        sqlitecpp_static_dep,
         sqlite3_dep,
     ]