diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index d996e425..9698b5b8 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -278,6 +278,9 @@ if is_unixy
 endif
 
 if get_option('mangoapp')
+  if not get_option('with_x11').enabled()
+    error('mangoapp also needs \'with_x11\'')
+  endif
   pre_args += '-DIMGUI_IMPL_OPENGL_LOADER_GLEW'
   pre_args += '-DMANGOAPP'
   mangoapp = executable(