diff --git a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
index d521adffed..d21dd82ac5 100644
--- a/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
+++ b/src/nwfilter/nwfilter_driver.c
@@ -177,11 +177,9 @@ nwfilterStateInitialize(bool privileged,
     if (!privileged)
         return 0;
 
-#if WITH_DBUS
     if (virDBusHasSystemBus() &&
         !(sysbus = virDBusGetSystemBus()))
         return -1;
-#endif /* WITH_DBUS */
 
     if (VIR_ALLOC(driverState) < 0)
         return -1;