diff --git a/examples/meson.build b/examples/meson.build
index b9ab24223f..3fe08d4ca5 100644
--- a/examples/meson.build
+++ b/examples/meson.build
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ all_examples = [
 	'vmdq', 'vmdq_dcb',
 ]
 
+# on install, skip copying all meson.build files
+ex_file_excludes = ['meson.build']
+foreach ex:all_examples
+	ex_file_excludes += [ex + '/meson.build']
+endforeach
+
 if get_option('examples') == ''
 	subdir_done()
 endif
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index fcc4d4c900..7778e18200 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ subdir('doc')
 subdir('examples')
 install_subdir('examples',
 	install_dir: get_option('datadir') + '/dpdk',
-	exclude_files: 'meson.build')
+	exclude_files: ex_file_excludes)
 
 # build kernel modules if enabled
 if get_option('enable_kmods')