diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e8f31054..8feed80a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ config_h.set10('HAVE_POLKIT_AGENT', polkit_agent_dep.found())
 config_h.set10('HAVE_POLKIT', polkit_dep.found())
 
 if get_option('libunwind')
-  libunwind_dep = dependency('libunwind-generic', required: false)
+  libunwind_dep = dependency('libunwind-generic')
   config_h.set('ENABLE_LIBUNWIND', libunwind_dep.found())
   config_h.set('HAVE_UNW_SET_CACHE_SIZE', libunwind_dep.found() and cc.has_header_symbol('libunwind.h', 'unw_set_cache_size', dependencies: [libunwind_dep]))
 endif