diff --git a/src/runmodes.c b/src/runmodes.c
index 03f28d7c37..2546384a9c 100644
--- a/src/runmodes.c
+++ b/src/runmodes.c
@@ -674,6 +674,14 @@ void RunModeInitializeOutputs(void)
                     "recompile with libjansson and its development "
                     "files installed to add eve-log support.");
             continue;
+#endif
+        } else if (strcmp(output->val, "lua") == 0) {
+#ifndef HAVE_LUA
+            SCLogWarning(SC_ERR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
+                    "lua support not compiled in. Reconfigure/"
+                    "recompile with lua(jit) and its development "
+                    "files installed to add lua support.");
+            continue;
 #endif
         }