diff --git a/lib/core/context.c b/lib/core/context.c
index 69924d44d..9d0de5bee 100644
--- a/lib/core/context.c
+++ b/lib/core/context.c
@@ -563,6 +563,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
 		fatal_exit_defer = !!info->foreign_loops;
 		us_wait_resolution = 0;
 	}
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_LIBUV)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants libuv, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_LIBEVENT)
@@ -571,6 +576,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
 		plev = &evlib_event;
 		us_wait_resolution = 0;
 	}
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_LIBEVENT)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants libevent, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_GLIB)
@@ -579,6 +589,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
 		plev = &evlib_glib;
 		us_wait_resolution = 0;
 	}
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_GLIB)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants glib, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_LIBEV)
@@ -587,6 +602,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
 		plev = &evlib_ev;
 		us_wait_resolution = 0;
 	}
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_LIBEV)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants libev, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_SDEVENT)
@@ -595,6 +615,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
         plev = &evlib_sd;
         us_wait_resolution = 0;
     }
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_SDEVENT)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants sdevent, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_ULOOP)
@@ -603,6 +628,11 @@ lws_create_context(const struct lws_context_creation_info *info)
         plev = &evlib_uloop;
         us_wait_resolution = 0;
     }
+#else
+	if (lws_check_opt(info->options, LWS_SERVER_OPTION_ULOOP)) {
+		lwsl_cx_err(context, "Application wants uloop, but lws not built with it");
+		goto bail;
+	}
 #endif
 
 #endif /* with event libs */