diff --git a/src/alloc.c b/src/alloc.c
index b17fdbdc..484a3e5b 100644
--- a/src/alloc.c
+++ b/src/alloc.c
@@ -908,9 +908,13 @@ static bool mi_try_new_handler(bool nothrow) {
   #endif
   if (h==NULL) {
     _mi_error_message(ENOMEM, "out of memory in 'new'");
+    #if defined(_CPPUNWIND) || defined(__cpp_exceptions)  // exceptions are not always enabled
     if (!nothrow) {
       throw std::bad_alloc();
     }
+    #else
+    MI_UNUSED(nothrow);
+    #endif
     return false;
   }
   else {