diff --git a/examples/meson.build b/examples/meson.build
index 266d9e24..3b9ab82a 100644
--- a/examples/meson.build
+++ b/examples/meson.build
@@ -56,9 +56,6 @@ foreach name, args : libui_examples
 		link_with: libui_libui,
 		cpp_args: args.get('cpp_args', []),
 		link_args: args.get('link_args', []) + libui_example_link_args,
-		build_by_default: false,
 		gui_app: false,
 		install: false)
 endforeach
-
-# MESONTODO define the top-level examples target here
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 968ee514..f0af0a7c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #     [--layout=flat] \                    (useful for distribution and Windows DLL tests)
 #     [--b_sanitize=whatever]
 # It turns out that I wouldn't really need any custom options; go figure.
-# MESONTODO figure out why test and examples aren't included in ninja all
 
 # TODO I'm not sure how to allow building 32-bit instead of 64-bit with meson
 
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ project('libui', ['c', 'cpp'],
 	default_options: [
 		'buildtype=debug',				# build debug by default
 		'default_library=shared',			# build shared libraries by default
+		'layout=flat',					# keep all outputs together by default
 
 		# these are forced options, but meson doesn't let me set these up separately before I call project() (TODO https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/5179)
 		'warning_level=3',				# always max warnings
diff --git a/test/meson.build b/test/meson.build
index 928d814e..159ed724 100644
--- a/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/meson.build
@@ -44,6 +44,5 @@ endif
 executable('tester', libui_test_sources,
 	dependencies: libui_binary_deps,
 	link_with: libui_libui,
-	build_by_default: false,
 	gui_app: false,
 	install: false)