diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/JQ.in b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/JQ.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..156174fd06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/JQ.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+@JQ@
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/meson.build b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/meson.build
index fbe88da8d2..deef5adda1 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/meson.build
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/.build_vars/meson.build
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ configure_file(
 foreach name, prog : {
     'CURL': curl,
     'FSTRM_CAPTURE': fstrm_capture,
+    'JQ': jq,
     'NC': nc,
     'PERL': perl,
     'PYTEST': pytest,
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/build.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/build.py
index 4071272c11..a71256bba3 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/build.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/vars/build.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ def load_vars_from_build_files() -> Dict[str, str]:
     for var in [
         "CURL",
         "FSTRM_CAPTURE",
+        "JQ",
         "NC",
         "PERL",
         "PYTEST",
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 57287ae0f6..b1552528ce 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ dtrace = find_program(['dtrace', dtrace_shim], required: false)
 curl = find_program('curl', required: false)
 fstrm_capture = find_program('fstrm_capture', required: false)
 git = find_program('git', required: false)
+jq = find_program('jq', required: false)
 nc = find_program('nc', required: false)
 python = find_program(['python3', 'python'], required: false)
 xsltproc = find_program('xsltproc', required: false)