diff --git a/lib/core/context.c b/lib/core/context.c
index cdbcec883..a733ee38c 100644
--- a/lib/core/context.c
+++ b/lib/core/context.c
@@ -542,6 +542,11 @@ 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)
@@ -550,6 +555,11 @@ 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)
@@ -558,6 +568,11 @@ 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)
@@ -566,6 +581,11 @@ 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)
@@ -574,6 +594,11 @@ 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)
@@ -582,6 +607,11 @@ 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 */