diff --git a/dependencies.py b/dependencies.py
index e3dfc74d7..ec215a371 100644
--- a/dependencies.py
+++ b/dependencies.py
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class BoostDependency(Dependency):
     def detect_lib_modules(self):
         globber = 'libboost_*.so' # FIXME, make platform independent.
         if self.boost_root is None:
-            libdirs = environment.get_library_dirs()
+            libdirs = mesonlib.get_library_dirs()
         else:
             libdirs = [os.path.join(self.boost_root, 'lib')]
         for libdir in libdirs:
@@ -417,7 +417,6 @@ class GTestDependency(Dependency):
         Dependency.__init__(self)
         self.main = kwargs.get('main', False)
         self.name = 'gtest'
-        self.libdir = '/usr/lib'
         self.libname = 'libgtest.so'
         self.libmain_name = 'libgtest_main.so'
         self.include_dir = '/usr/include'
@@ -431,9 +430,15 @@ class GTestDependency(Dependency):
         return self.is_found
 
     def detect(self):
-        libname = os.path.join(self.libdir, self.libname)
-        mainname = os.path.join(self.libdir, self.libmain_name)
-        if os.path.exists(libname) and os.path.exists(mainname):
+        trial_dirs = mesonlib.get_library_dirs()
+        glib_found = False
+        gmain_found = False
+        for d in trial_dirs:
+            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(d, self.libname)):
+                glib_found = True
+            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(d, self.libmain_name)):
+                gmain_found = True
+        if glib_found and gmain_found:
             self.is_found = True
             self.compile_args = []
             self.link_args = ['-lgtest']
@@ -478,32 +483,36 @@ class GMockDependency(Dependency):
         # GMock may be a library or just source.
         # Work with both.
         self.name = 'gmock'
-        self.libdir = '/usr/lib'
         self.libname = 'libgmock.so'
-        self.src_include_dir = '/usr/src/gmock'
-        self.src_dir = '/usr/src/gmock/src'
-        self.all_src = os.path.join(self.src_dir, 'gmock-all.cc')
-        self.main_src = os.path.join(self.src_dir, 'gmock_main.cc')
-        fname = os.path.join(self.libdir, self.libname)
-        if os.path.exists(fname):
+        trial_dirs = mesonlib.get_library_dirs()
+        gmock_found = False
+        for d in trial_dirs:
+            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(d, self.libname)):
+                gmock_found = True
+        if gmock_found:
             self.is_found = True
             self.compile_args = []
             self.link_args = ['-lgmock']
             self.sources = []
             mlog.log('Dependency GMock found:', mlog.green('YES'), '(prebuilt)')
-        elif os.path.exists(self.src_dir):
-            self.is_found = True
-            self.compile_args = ['-I' + self.src_include_dir]
-            self.link_args = []
-            if kwargs.get('main', False):
-                self.sources = [self.all_src, self.main_src]
-            else:
-                self.sources = [self.all_src]
-            mlog.log('Dependency GMock found:', mlog.green('YES'), '(building self)')
+            return
 
-        else:
-            mlog.log('Dependency GMock found:', mlog.red('NO'))
-            self.is_found = False
+        for d in ['/usr/src/gmock/src', '/usr/src/gmock']:
+            if os.path.exists(d):
+                self.is_found = True
+                self.compile_args = ['-I' + d]
+                self.link_args = []
+                all_src = os.path.join(d, 'gmock-all.cc')
+                main_src = os.path.join(d, 'gmock_main.cc')
+                if kwargs.get('main', False):
+                    self.sources = [all_src, main_src]
+                else:
+                    self.sources = [all_src]
+                mlog.log('Dependency GMock found:', mlog.green('YES'), '(building self)')
+                return
+
+        mlog.log('Dependency GMock found:', mlog.red('NO'))
+        self.is_found = False
 
     def get_version(self):
         return '1.something_maybe'
diff --git a/environment.py b/environment.py
index b6998c58e..8c873b669 100644
--- a/environment.py
+++ b/environment.py
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ class Environment():
         return self.coredata.datadir
 
     def find_library(self, libname):
-        dirs = self.get_library_dirs()
+        dirs = mesonlib.get_library_dirs()
         suffixes = [self.get_shared_lib_suffix(), self.get_static_lib_suffix()]
         prefix = self.get_shared_lib_prefix()
         for d in dirs:
@@ -557,35 +557,6 @@ class Environment():
                 if os.path.isfile(trial):
                     return trial
 
-    def get_library_dirs(self):
-        return get_library_dirs()
-
-def get_library_dirs():
-        if mesonlib.is_windows():
-            return ['C:/mingw/lib'] # Fixme
-        if mesonlib.is_osx():
-            return ['/usr/lib'] # Fix me as well.
-        # The following is probably Debian/Ubuntu specific.
-        # /usr/local/lib is first because it contains stuff
-        # installed by the sysadmin and is probably more up-to-date
-        # than /usr/lib. If you feel that this search order is
-        # problematic, please raise the issue on the mailing list.
-        unixdirs = ['/usr/local/lib', '/usr/lib', '/lib']
-        plat = subprocess.check_output(['uname', '-m']).decode().strip()
-        # This is a terrible hack. I admit it and I'm really sorry.
-        # I just don't know what the correct solution is.
-        if plat == 'i686':
-            plat = 'i386'
-        if plat.startswith('arm'):
-            plat = 'arm'
-        unixdirs += glob('/usr/lib/' + plat + '*')
-        if os.path.exists('/usr/lib64'):
-            unixdirs.append('/usr/lib64')
-        unixdirs += glob('/lib/' + plat + '*')
-        if os.path.exists('/lib64'):
-            unixdirs.append('/lib64')
-        unixdirs += glob('/lib/' + plat + '*')
-        return unixdirs
 
 def get_args_from_envvars(lang):
     if lang == 'c':
diff --git a/mesonlib.py b/mesonlib.py
index af1d47f9c..10e5265ac 100644
--- a/mesonlib.py
+++ b/mesonlib.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 """A library of random helper functionality."""
 
 import platform, subprocess, operator, os, shutil
+from glob import glob
 
 def is_osx():
     return platform.system().lower() == 'darwin'
@@ -92,3 +93,30 @@ def default_libdir():
         archpath = subprocess.check_output(['dpkg-architecture', '-qDEB_HOST_MULTIARCH']).decode().strip()
         return 'lib/' + archpath
     return 'lib'
+
+def get_library_dirs():
+    if is_windows():
+        return ['C:/mingw/lib'] # Fixme
+    if is_osx():
+        return ['/usr/lib'] # Fix me as well.
+    # The following is probably Debian/Ubuntu specific.
+    # /usr/local/lib is first because it contains stuff
+    # installed by the sysadmin and is probably more up-to-date
+    # than /usr/lib. If you feel that this search order is
+    # problematic, please raise the issue on the mailing list.
+    unixdirs = ['/usr/local/lib', '/usr/lib', '/lib']
+    plat = subprocess.check_output(['uname', '-m']).decode().strip()
+    # This is a terrible hack. I admit it and I'm really sorry.
+    # I just don't know what the correct solution is.
+    if plat == 'i686':
+        plat = 'i386'
+    if plat.startswith('arm'):
+        plat = 'arm'
+    unixdirs += glob('/usr/lib/' + plat + '*')
+    if os.path.exists('/usr/lib64'):
+        unixdirs.append('/usr/lib64')
+    unixdirs += glob('/lib/' + plat + '*')
+    if os.path.exists('/lib64'):
+        unixdirs.append('/lib64')
+    unixdirs += glob('/lib/' + plat + '*')
+    return unixdirs