diff --git a/libs/ardour/wscript b/libs/ardour/wscript
index 0d36e85875..d3e55320ca 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/wscript
+++ b/libs/ardour/wscript
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ def configure(conf):
     autowaf.check_pkg(conf, 'sratom-0', uselib_store='SRATOM',
                       atleast_version='0.2.0', mandatory=True)
     autowaf.check_pkg(conf, 'lilv-0', uselib_store='LILV',
-                      atleast_version='0.24.2', mandatory=False)
+                      atleast_version='0.24.2', mandatory=True)
     autowaf.check_pkg(conf, 'suil-0', uselib_store='SUIL',
                       atleast_version='0.6.0', mandatory=False)
     conf.define ('LV2_SUPPORT', 1)