diff --git a/test/meson.build b/test/meson.build
index 6fc1e622afa74f7d9226bd6e898ccb2689290d3f..af0926a0aaa0a0285e18c693c97e52d40d97b391 100644
--- a/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/meson.build
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ if ruby.found()
       env : test_env
     )
   endforeach
+else
+   message('ruby not found! Install ruby to run unit tests.')
 endif
 
 subdir('bench')