diff --git a/nixos/modules/security/permissions-wrappers/permissions-wrapper.c b/nixos/modules/security/permissions-wrappers/permissions-wrapper.c
index 2e7b1edde3be..6e00df9cef83 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/security/permissions-wrappers/permissions-wrapper.c
+++ b/nixos/modules/security/permissions-wrappers/permissions-wrapper.c
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ static char * wrapperType = "setcap";
 #elif defined WRAPPER_SETUID
 static char * wrapperType = "setuid";
 #else
-fprintf(stderr, "Program must be compiled with either the WRAPPER_SETCAP or WRAPPER_SETUID macros specified!\n");
-exit(1);
+#error Program must be compiled with either the WRAPPER_SETCAP or WRAPPER_SETUID macro
 #endif
 
 // Update the capabilities of the running process to include the given