diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/python.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/python.py
index 34945cb82b6d..0ca9cef6a0e1 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/python.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/python.py
@@ -349,8 +349,14 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, environment: 'Environment',
         SystemDependency.__init__(self, name, environment, kwargs)
         _PythonDependencyBase.__init__(self, installation, kwargs.get('embed', False))
 
-        # match pkg-config behavior
-        if self.link_libpython:
+        # For most platforms, match pkg-config behavior. iOS is a special case;
+        # check for that first, so that check takes priority over
+        # `link_libpython` (which *shouldn't* be set, but just in case)
+        if self.platform.startswith('ios-'):
+            # iOS doesn't use link_libpython - it links with the *framework*.
+            self.link_args = ['-framework', 'Python', '-F', self.variables.get('prefix')]
+            self.is_found = True
+        elif self.link_libpython:
             # link args
             if mesonlib.is_windows():
                 self.find_libpy_windows(environment, limited_api=False)