diff --git a/app/meson.build b/app/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da8b631f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+#   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 0000000000..396977533f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/test-pmd/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#   BSD LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright(c) 2017 Intel Corporation.
+#   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',
+	'cmdline_mtr.c',
+	'cmdline_tm.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 = ['ethdev', 'gro', 'gso', 'cmdline', 'metrics', 'meter']
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_PDUMP')
+	deps += 'pdump'
+endif
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_I40E_PMD')
+	deps += 'pmd_i40e'
+endif
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_IXGBE_PMD')
+	deps += 'pmd_ixgbe'
+endif
+if dpdk_conf.has('RTE_LIBRTE_SOFTNIC_PMD')
+	sources += files('tm.c')
+	deps += 'pmd_softnic'
+endif
+
+dep_objs = []
+foreach d:deps
+	dep_objs += get_variable('dep_rte_' + d)
+endforeach
+
+link_libs = []
+if get_option('default_library') == 'static'
+	link_libs = dpdk_drivers
+endif
+
+executable('dpdk-testpmd',
+	sources,
+	c_args: '-DALLOW_EXPERIMENTAL_API',
+	link_whole: link_libs,
+	dependencies: dep_objs,
+	link_args: eal_extra_link_arg, # add -ldl for linux, -lexecinfo for BSD
+	install_rpath: driver_install_path,
+	install: true)
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 27c5e38482..8ee78c5ed4 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ subdir('lib')
 subdir('buildtools')
 subdir('drivers')
 
-# TODO build binaries and installable tools
+# build binaries and (TODO) installable tools
+subdir('app')
 
 # write the build config
 build_cfg = 'rte_build_config.h'