diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py b/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
index 4e6799f7f..907a609ea 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/gnome.py
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ class GnomeModule(ExtensionModule):
         self.__print_gresources_warning(state)
         glib_version = self._get_native_glib_version(state)
 
-        cmd = ['glib-compile-resources', '@INPUT@']
+        glib_compile_resources = self.interpreter.find_program_impl('glib-compile-resources')
+        cmd = [glib_compile_resources, '@INPUT@']
 
         source_dirs, dependencies = [mesonlib.extract_as_list(kwargs, c, pop=True) for c in  ['source_dir', 'dependencies']]
 
@@ -92,45 +93,49 @@ class GnomeModule(ExtensionModule):
                                  'and the path to the XML file are required')
 
         # Validate dependencies
-        for (ii, dep) in enumerate(dependencies):
-            if hasattr(dep, 'held_object'):
-                dependencies[ii] = dep = dep.held_object
-            if not isinstance(dep, (mesonlib.File, build.CustomTarget, build.CustomTargetIndex)):
-                m = 'Unexpected dependency type {!r} for gnome.compile_resources() ' \
-                    '"dependencies" argument.\nPlease pass the return value of ' \
-                    'custom_target() or configure_file()'
-                raise MesonException(m.format(dep))
-            if isinstance(dep, (build.CustomTarget, build.CustomTargetIndex)):
+        subdirs = []
+        depends = []
+        for (ii, dep) in enumerate(unholder(dependencies)):
+            if isinstance(dep, mesonlib.File):
+                subdirs.append(dep.subdir)
+            elif isinstance(dep, (build.CustomTarget, build.CustomTargetIndex)):
+                depends.append(dep)
+                subdirs.append(dep.get_subdir())
                 if not mesonlib.version_compare(glib_version, gresource_dep_needed_version):
                     m = 'The "dependencies" argument of gnome.compile_resources() can not\n' \
                         'be used with the current version of glib-compile-resources due to\n' \
                         '<https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=774368>'
                     raise MesonException(m)
-
-        ifile = args[1]
-        if isinstance(ifile, mesonlib.File):
-            # glib-compile-resources will be run inside the source dir,
-            # so we need either 'src_to_build' or the absolute path.
-            # Absolute path is the easiest choice.
-            if ifile.is_built:
-                ifile = os.path.join(state.environment.get_build_dir(), ifile.subdir, ifile.fname)
             else:
-                ifile = os.path.join(ifile.subdir, ifile.fname)
-        elif isinstance(ifile, str):
-            ifile = os.path.join(state.subdir, ifile)
-        elif isinstance(ifile, (interpreter.CustomTargetHolder,
-                                interpreter.CustomTargetIndexHolder,
-                                interpreter.GeneratedObjectsHolder)):
-            m = 'Resource xml files generated at build-time cannot be used ' \
-                'with gnome.compile_resources() because we need to scan ' \
-                'the xml for dependencies. Use configure_file() instead ' \
-                'to generate it at configure-time.'
-            raise MesonException(m)
-        else:
-            raise MesonException('Invalid file argument: {!r}'.format(ifile))
+                m = 'Unexpected dependency type {!r} for gnome.compile_resources() ' \
+                    '"dependencies" argument.\nPlease pass the return value of ' \
+                    'custom_target() or configure_file()'
+                raise MesonException(m.format(dep))
 
-        depend_files, depends, subdirs = self._get_gresource_dependencies(
-            state, ifile, source_dirs, dependencies)
+        if not mesonlib.version_compare(glib_version, gresource_dep_needed_version):
+            ifile = args[1]
+            if isinstance(ifile, mesonlib.File):
+                # glib-compile-resources will be run inside the source dir,
+                # so we need either 'src_to_build' or the absolute path.
+                # Absolute path is the easiest choice.
+                if ifile.is_built:
+                    ifile = os.path.join(state.environment.get_build_dir(), ifile.subdir, ifile.fname)
+                else:
+                    ifile = os.path.join(ifile.subdir, ifile.fname)
+            elif isinstance(ifile, str):
+                ifile = os.path.join(state.subdir, ifile)
+            elif isinstance(ifile, (interpreter.CustomTargetHolder,
+                                    interpreter.CustomTargetIndexHolder,
+                                    interpreter.GeneratedObjectsHolder)):
+                m = 'Resource xml files generated at build-time cannot be used ' \
+                    'with gnome.compile_resources() because we need to scan ' \
+                    'the xml for dependencies. Use configure_file() instead ' \
+                    'to generate it at configure-time.'
+                raise MesonException(m)
+            else:
+                raise MesonException('Invalid file argument: {!r}'.format(ifile))
+            depend_files, depends, subdirs = self._get_gresource_dependencies(
+                state, ifile, source_dirs, dependencies)
 
         # Make source dirs relative to build dir now
         source_dirs = [os.path.join(state.build_to_src, state.subdir, d) for d in source_dirs]
diff --git a/test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/test.json b/test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/test.json
index 67dc7e4cc..4bc7d9020 100644
--- a/test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/test.json	
+++ b/test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/test.json	
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "stdout": [
     {
-      "line": "test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/meson.build:8:0: ERROR: Could not execute glib-compile-resources."
+      "line": "test cases/failing/105 no glib-compile-resources/meson.build:8:0: ERROR: Program 'glib-compile-resources' not found"
     }
   ]
 }