diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2e62f66a9..d48733938 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ if get_option('xselinux') != 'false'
     if get_option('xselinux') == 'true'
         build_xselinux = true
     else
-        build_xselinux = dep_selinux.found() and dep_audit.found()
+        build_xselinux = dep_selinux.found() and dep_audit.found() and build_xace
     endif
 
     if build_xselinux
@@ -460,6 +460,10 @@ if get_option('xselinux') != 'false'
         common_dep += dep_audit
     endif
 endif
+if build_xselinux and not build_xace
+    error('cannot build SELinux extension without X-ACE')
+endif
+
 
 socket_dep = []
 if host_machine.system() == 'windows'