diff --git a/python-meson-python.spec b/python-meson-python.spec
index b2e36bb..d8625db 100644
--- a/python-meson-python.spec
+++ b/python-meson-python.spec
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 # The python-pytest-mock dependency is unwanted on RHEL; we can omit it and
 # still run most of the tests.
 %bcond pytest_mock %{undefined rhel}
+# RHEL will not have patchelf (which is used for adjusting RPATH in shared
+# libraries bundled in wheels); that is OK because the package is
+# buildroot-only there and the packages built with python-meson-python will not
+# bundle shared libraries. In Fedora and EPEL, we must depend on patchelf to
+# ship a full-featured package.
+%bcond patchelf %{expr:%{undefined rhel} || %{defined epel}}
 
 Name:           python-meson-python
 Summary:        Meson Python build backend (PEP 517)
@@ -42,7 +48,7 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 # When patchelf is not in the PATH, mesonpy.get_requires_for_build_wheel() adds
 # https://pypi.org/project/patchelf/ to the dependencies. We always want to use
 # the system patchelf.
-%if 0%{?epel} || !0%{?rhel}
+%if %{with patchelf}
 BuildRequires:  /usr/bin/patchelf
 Requires:       /usr/bin/patchelf
 %endif
@@ -57,7 +63,7 @@ Requires:       /usr/bin/patchelf
 %setup -n meson_python-%{version} -q
 %patch 0 -p1
 %patch 1 -p1
-%if !0%{?epel} && 0%{?rhel}
+%if %{without patchelf}
 %patch 2 -p1
 %endif
 # build: used only by skipped PEP 518 test
@@ -92,7 +98,7 @@ ignore="${ignore-} --ignore=tests/test_pep518.py"
 k="${k-}${k+ and }not test_invalid_build_dir"
 k="${k-}${k+ and }not test_use_ansi_colors"
 %endif
-%if !0%{?epel} && 0%{?rhel}
+%if %{without patchelf}
 k="${k-}${k+ and }not test_contents"
 k="${k-}${k+ and }not test_local_lib"
 k="${k-}${k+ and }not test_rpath"