diff --git a/src/userdb/meson.build b/src/userdb/meson.build
index c25c40bc0a..3ab6ce7934 100644
--- a/src/userdb/meson.build
+++ b/src/userdb/meson.build
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ executables += [
         },
         executable_template + {
                 'name' : 'userdbctl',
+                'public' : true,
                 'conditions' : ['ENABLE_USERDB'],
                 'sources' : files('userdbctl.c'),
         },