diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
index 57bd210e40..ae0bb32907 100644
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -127,7 +127,12 @@ void Workspace::setupCompositing()
           break;
 #endif
         default:
+// this is the inverse of the two above tests, to have a different message
+#if !(defined(HAVE_OPENGL) || (defined(HAVE_XRENDER) && defined(HAVE_XFIXES)))
+            kDebug( 1212 ) << "Compositing was not available at compile time";
+#else
             kDebug( 1212 ) << "No compositing";
+#endif
             delete cm_selection;
           return;
         }