diff --git a/src/util/virjsoncompat.c b/src/util/virjsoncompat.c
index 6c853e9bb5..ffbeb5488c 100644
--- a/src/util/virjsoncompat.c
+++ b/src/util/virjsoncompat.c
@@ -271,4 +271,15 @@ json_true_impl(void)
     return json_true_ptr();
 }
 
-#endif /* WITH_JANSSON */
+
+#else /* !WITH_JANSSON */
+
+
+int
+virJSONInitialize(void)
+{
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+#endif /* !WITH_JANSSON */