diff --git a/c_src/sqlite3_drv.c b/c_src/sqlite3_drv.c
index a09fbef..5e048ae 100644
--- a/c_src/sqlite3_drv.c
+++ b/c_src/sqlite3_drv.c
@@ -246,12 +246,16 @@ static inline int output_ok(sqlite3_drv_t *drv) {
   return driver_output_term(drv->port, spec, sizeof(spec) / sizeof(spec[0]));
 }
 
-static int enable_load_extension(sqlite3_drv_t* drv, char *buf,
-    int len) {
+static int enable_load_extension(sqlite3_drv_t* drv, char *buf, int len) {
+#ifdef ERLANG_SQLITE3_LOAD_EXTENSION
   char enable = buf[0];
   sqlite3_enable_load_extension(drv->db, (int) enable);
   output_ok(drv);
   return 0;
+#else
+  output_error(drv, SQLITE_MISUSE, "extension loading not enabled");
+  return -1;
+#endif
 }
 
 static inline async_sqlite3_command *make_async_command_statement(