diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 74f7108..54b5bc8 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 option('base_url', type: 'string', value: 'https://api.originsro.org')
 option('def_sqlite_db_name', type: 'string', value: 'originsro.db3')
 option('tests', type: 'feature', value: 'enabled')
+option('with_sqlite', type: 'feature', value: 'auto')
diff --git a/src/config.hpp.in b/src/config.hpp.in
index e46d6b0..0e5c715 100644
--- a/src/config.hpp.in
+++ b/src/config.hpp.in
@@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ constexpr const unsigned short int g_version_major = @PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR@;
 constexpr const unsigned short int g_version_minor = @PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR@;
 constexpr const unsigned short int g_version_patch = @PROJECT_VERSION_PATCH@;
 
+#mesondefine OROTOOL_WITH_SQLITE
+
 } //namespace duck
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 61fd5f8..193b9cc 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -6,9 +6,14 @@ restc_cpp_dep = dependency('restc-cpp', version: '>=0.1.1',
   ],
 )
 
-sqlitecpp_dep = dependency('sqlitecpp', version: '>=3.0.0',
-  fallback: ['SQLiteCpp', 'sqlitecpp_dep'],
-)
+if not get_option('with_sqlite').disabled()
+  sqlitecpp_dep = dependency('sqlitecpp', version: '>=3.0.0',
+	fallback: ['SQLiteCpp', 'sqlitecpp_dep'],
+	required: get_option('with_sqlite'),
+  )
+else
+  sqlitecpp_dep = disabler()
+endif
 
 ev_dep = dependency('libev', version: '>=4.31')
 threads_dep = dependency('threads')
@@ -33,6 +38,7 @@ version_arr = meson.project_version().split('.')
 conf.set('PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR', version_arr[0])
 conf.set('PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR', version_arr[1])
 conf.set('PROJECT_VERSION_PATCH', version_arr[2])
+conf.set('OROTOOL_WITH_SQLITE', sqlitecpp_dep.found())
 project_config_file = configure_file(
 	input: 'config.hpp.in',
 	output: meson.project_name() + '_config.hpp',
@@ -43,13 +49,24 @@ gnulib_conf = configuration_data()
 gnulib_conf.set('_GL_ATTRIBUTE_CONST', '__attribute__ ((__const__))')
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : gnulib_conf)
 
+backend_libs = [
+  sqlitecpp_dep,
+]
+
+backends_selected = false
+foreach backend_lib : backend_libs
+  backends_selected = backends_selected or backend_lib.found()
+endforeach
+if not backends_selected
+  error('No backend was enabled or none of the enabled backend dependencies could be located')
+endif
+
 lib_deps = [
   restc_cpp_dep,
-  sqlitecpp_dep,
   ev_dep,
   threads_dep,
   boost_dep,
-]
+] + backend_libs
 
 executable(meson.project_name(),
   'main.cpp',
diff --git a/src/oro/originsdb.cpp b/src/oro/originsdb.cpp
index aac5841..5f9234a 100644
--- a/src/oro/originsdb.cpp
+++ b/src/oro/originsdb.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
  * along with Orotool.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
+#include "orotool_config.hpp"
+#if defined(OROTOOL_WITH_SQLITE)
+
 #include "originsdb.hpp"
 #include "SQLiteCpp/Database.h"
 #include "SQLiteCpp/Statement.h"
@@ -557,3 +560,5 @@ Timestamp OriginsDB::next_access_time (DBOperation op) const {
 }
 
 } //namespace oro
+
+#endif