diff --git a/src/lib/app/mainapplication.cpp b/src/lib/app/mainapplication.cpp
index c2e1b79ee..301c95c99 100644
--- a/src/lib/app/mainapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/app/mainapplication.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 #include "rssmanager.h"
 #include "proxystyle.h"
 #include "pluginproxy.h"
-#include "sqldatabase.h"
 #include "iconprovider.h"
 #include "browserwindow.h"
 #include "networkmanager.h"
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@
 #include <QFontDatabase>
 #include <QSqlDatabase>
 #include <QLibraryInfo>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 #include <QTranslator>
 #include <QThreadPool>
 #include <QSettings>
@@ -111,6 +111,14 @@ MainApplication::MainApplication(int &argc, char** argv)
         QIcon::setThemeName(QSL("oxygen-fallback"));
     }
 
+    // QSQLITE database plugin is required
+    if (!QSqlDatabase::isDriverAvailable(QSL("QSQLITE"))) {
+        QMessageBox::critical(0, QSL("Error"), QSL("Qt SQLite database plugin is not available. "
+                                                   "Please install it and restart the application."));
+        m_isClosing = true;
+        return;
+    }
+
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN
     // Set default app font (needed for N'ko)
     int fontId = QFontDatabase::addApplicationFont(QSL("font.ttf"));