diff --git a/src/command_network.cc b/src/command_network.cc
index 71854b63..f44390c8 100644
--- a/src/command_network.cc
+++ b/src/command_network.cc
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ apply_scgi(const std::string& arg, int type) {
   return torrent::Object();
 }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_SYSTEMD
 torrent::Object
 apply_scgi_systemd() {
+#ifdef HAVE_SYSTEMD
   if (scgi_thread::scgi() != nullptr)
     throw torrent::input_error("SCGI already enabled.");
 
@@ -182,8 +182,10 @@ apply_scgi_systemd() {
 
   scgi_thread::set_scgi(scgi);
   return torrent::Object();
-}
+#else
+  throw torrent::input_error("rtorrent was not built with systemd support.");
 #endif
+}
 
 torrent::Object
 apply_xmlrpc_dialect(const std::string& arg) {
@@ -285,9 +287,7 @@ initialize_command_network() {
   CMD2_ANY_STRING  ("network.scgi.open_port",        std::bind(&apply_scgi, std::placeholders::_2, 1));
   CMD2_ANY_STRING  ("network.scgi.open_local",       std::bind(&apply_scgi, std::placeholders::_2, 2));
   CMD2_VAR_BOOL    ("network.scgi.dont_route",       false);
-#ifdef HAVE_SYSTEMD
   CMD2_ANY_VALUE_V ("network.scgi.open_systemd",     [](auto, auto& value) { if (value != 0) apply_scgi_systemd(); });
-#endif
 
   CMD2_ANY_STRING  ("network.xmlrpc.dialect.set",    [](const auto&, const auto& arg) { return apply_xmlrpc_dialect(arg); })
   CMD2_ANY         ("network.xmlrpc.size_limit",     [](const auto&, const auto&)     { return rpc::rpc.size_limit(); });