diff --git a/src/conky.cc b/src/conky.cc
index 0174e660..3e04a602 100644
--- a/src/conky.cc
+++ b/src/conky.cc
@@ -2703,7 +2703,9 @@ void load_config_file() {
     } else {
 #endif
       l.loadfile(current_config.c_str());
+#ifdef BUILD_BUILTIN_CONFIG
     }
+#endif
   } catch (lua::syntax_error &e) {
 #define SYNTAX_ERR_READ_CONF "Syntax error (%s) while reading config file. "
 #ifdef BUILD_OLD_CONFIG