diff --git a/app/meson.build b/app/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bdf043ead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
+#   All rights reserved.
+#
+#   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#   are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#       distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+subdir('test-pmd')
diff --git a/app/test-pmd/meson.build b/app/test-pmd/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c60f4bc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/test-pmd/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
+#   All rights reserved.
+#
+#   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+#   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+#   are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+#       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+#       distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its
+#       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+#   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+#   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+#   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+#   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+#   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+#   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+#   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+#   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+#   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+#   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+sources = files('cmdline.c',
+	'cmdline_flow.c',
+	'config.c',
+	'csumonly.c',
+	'flowgen.c',
+	'icmpecho.c',
+	'ieee1588fwd.c',
+	'iofwd.c',
+	'macfwd.c',
+	'macswap.c',
+	'parameters.c',
+	'rxonly.c',
+	'testpmd.c',
+	'txonly.c')
+
+deps = ['rte_eal', 'rte_net', 'rte_ether', 'rte_mempool', 'rte_ring',
+	'rte_mbuf', 'rte_gro', 'rte_cmdline', 'rte_metrics']
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_I40E_PMD')
+	deps += 'rte_pmd_i40e'
+endif
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_IXGBE_PMD')
+	deps += 'rte_pmd_ixgbe'
+endif
+
+dep_objs = []
+foreach d:deps
+	dep_objs += get_variable('dep_' + d)
+endforeach
+
+link_libs = []
+if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
+	link_libs = dpdk_drivers
+endif
+
+executable('dpdk-testpmd',
+	sources,
+	link_whole: link_libs,
+	dependencies: dep_objs,
+	link_args: eal_extra_link_arg, # add -ldl for linux, -lexecinfo for BSD
+	install: true)
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/meson.build b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/meson.build
index 86a9e3d14..96ad1cef7 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/meson.build
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/meson.build
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ sources = ['eal_alarm.c',
 		'eal_pci.c',
 ]
 
+eal_extra_link_arg = '-lexecinfo'
+
 version_map = join_paths(meson.current_source_dir(), 'rte_eal_version.map')
 eal_lib = library('rte_eal', sources, eal_common_sources, eal_common_arch_sources,
 			dependencies: dependency('threads'),
@@ -51,15 +53,14 @@ eal_lib = library('rte_eal', sources, eal_common_sources, eal_common_arch_source
 			version: '@0@.1'.format(version),
 			c_args: '-D_GNU_SOURCE',
 			link_depends: version_map,
-			link_args: ['-lexecinfo',
+			link_args: [eal_extra_link_arg,
 				'-Wl,--version-script=' + version_map],
 			install: true
 )
 
-dpdk_libraries += ['-pthread', eal_lib]
+dpdk_libraries += [eal_lib, '-pthread', eal_extra_link_arg]
 
 rte_eal = declare_dependency(link_with: eal_lib,
 		include_directories: eal_inc,
-		dependencies: dependency('threads'),
-		link_args: '-lexecinfo')
+		dependencies: dependency('threads'))
 set_variable('dep_rte_eal', rte_eal)
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/meson.build b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/meson.build
index 90ecfc394..30741519b 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/meson.build
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/meson.build
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ sources = ['eal_alarm.c',
 		'eal_pci.c',
 ]
 
+eal_extra_link_arg = '-ldl'
+
 version_map = join_paths(meson.current_source_dir(), 'rte_eal_version.map')
 eal_lib = library('rte_eal', sources, eal_common_sources, eal_common_arch_sources,
 			dependencies: dependency('threads'),
@@ -56,15 +58,14 @@ eal_lib = library('rte_eal', sources, eal_common_sources, eal_common_arch_source
 			version: '@0@.1'.format(version),
 			c_args: '-D_GNU_SOURCE',
 			link_depends: version_map,
-			link_args: ['-ldl',
+			link_args: [eal_extra_link_arg,
 				'-Wl,--version-script=' + version_map],
 			install: true
 )
 
-dpdk_libraries += ['-pthread', '-ldl', eal_lib]
+dpdk_libraries += [eal_lib, '-pthread', eal_extra_link_arg]
 
 rte_eal = declare_dependency(link_with: eal_lib,
 		include_directories: eal_inc,
-		dependencies: dependency('threads'),
-		link_args: '-ldl')
+		dependencies: dependency('threads'))
 set_variable('dep_rte_eal', rte_eal)
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index daadf7235..dfcead92a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ subdir('config')
 subdir('lib')
 subdir('buildtools')
 subdir('drivers')
+
+# build binaries and installable tools
 subdir('usertools')
+subdir('app')
 
 # write the build config
 build_cfg = 'rte_build_config.h'
@@ -68,7 +71,8 @@ configure_file(output: build_cfg,
 		configuration: dpdk_conf,
 		install_dir: get_option('includedir'))
 
-# for static builds, include the drivers directly
+# for static builds, include the drivers as libs, and also any
+# other dependent libs that DPDK needs to link against
 if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
 	dpdk_libraries = dpdk_drivers + dpdk_libraries
 endif
