diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000.c b/drivers/net/e1000.c
index c460f96f6..330c16f5c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000.c
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@
 #include <netif/etharp.h>
 #include <net/e1000.h>
 
+#if USE_E1000
+
 #define RX_BUF_LEN      (2048)
 #define TX_BUF_LEN      (1792)
 
@@ -603,3 +605,5 @@ oom:
 
 	return ERR_MEM;
 }
+
+#endif
diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000.h b/drivers/net/e1000.h
index 08f0d886f..49ade1225 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000.h
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #include <hermit/stddef.h>
 #include <hermit/spinlock.h>
 
+#ifdef USE_E1000
+
 #define NUM_RX_DESCRIPTORS	64
 #define NUM_TX_DESCRIPTORS	64
 
@@ -324,3 +326,5 @@ typedef struct e1000if {
 err_t e1000if_init(struct netif* netif);
 
 #endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/kernel/main.c b/kernel/main.c
index 7421f8745..07e0277f2 100644
--- a/kernel/main.c
+++ b/kernel/main.c
@@ -207,8 +207,10 @@ static int init_netifs(void)
 			goto success;
 		if ((err = netifapi_netif_add(&default_netif, ip_2_ip4(&ipaddr), ip_2_ip4(&netmask), ip_2_ip4(&gw), NULL, rtl8139if_init, ethernet_input)) == ERR_OK)
 			goto success;
+#ifdef USE_E1000
 		if ((err = netifapi_netif_add(&default_netif, ip_2_ip4(&ipaddr), ip_2_ip4(&netmask), ip_2_ip4(&gw), NULL, e1000if_init, ethernet_input)) == ERR_OK)
 			goto success;
+#endif
 
 		LOG_ERROR("Unable to add the network interface: err = %d\n", err);