diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 6d6537d74a..5bd22f431a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -690,15 +690,21 @@ if not get_option('rbd').auto() or have_block
   librbd = cc.find_library('rbd', has_headers: ['rbd/librbd.h'],
                            required: get_option('rbd'),
                            kwargs: static_kwargs)
-  if librados.found() and librbd.found() and cc.links('''
-    #include <stdio.h>
-    #include <rbd/librbd.h>
-    int main(void) {
-      rados_t cluster;
-      rados_create(&cluster, NULL);
-      return 0;
-    }''', dependencies: [librbd, librados])
-    rbd = declare_dependency(dependencies: [librbd, librados])
+  if librados.found() and librbd.found()
+    if cc.links('''
+      #include <stdio.h>
+      #include <rbd/librbd.h>
+      int main(void) {
+        rados_t cluster;
+        rados_create(&cluster, NULL);
+        return 0;
+      }''', dependencies: [librbd, librados])
+      rbd = declare_dependency(dependencies: [librbd, librados])
+    elif get_option('rbd').enabled()
+      error('could not link librados')
+    else
+      warning('could not link librados, disabling')
+    endif
   endif
 endif