diff --git a/doc/build-unix.md b/doc/build-unix.md
index 7d1b93eb25..e700601daf 100644
--- a/doc/build-unix.md
+++ b/doc/build-unix.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Optional dependencies:
  gmp         | Optimized math routines | Arbitrary precision arithmetic library
  miniupnpc   | UPnP Support     | Firewall-jumping support
  libnatpmp   | NAT-PMP Support  | Firewall-jumping support
- libdb4.8    | Berkeley DB      | Wallet storage (only needed when wallet enabled)
+ libdb4.8    | Berkeley DB      | Optional, wallet storage (only needed when wallet enabled)
  qt          | GUI              | GUI toolkit (only needed when GUI enabled)
  libqrencode | QR codes in GUI  | Optional for generating QR codes (only needed when GUI enabled)
  libzmq3     | ZMQ notification | Optional, allows generating ZMQ notifications (requires ZMQ version >= 4.0.0)
diff --git a/src/qt/createwalletdialog.cpp b/src/qt/createwalletdialog.cpp
index 12afcfe1c3..37ccd17edb 100644
--- a/src/qt/createwalletdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/createwalletdialog.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ CreateWalletDialog::CreateWalletDialog(QWidget* parent) :
     ui->descriptor_checkbox->setEnabled(false);
     ui->descriptor_checkbox->setChecked(false);
 #endif
+#ifndef USE_BDB
+    ui->descriptor_checkbox->setEnabled(false);
+    ui->descriptor_checkbox->setChecked(true);
+#endif
 }
 
 CreateWalletDialog::~CreateWalletDialog()
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
index 84608b9fc8..b438ddb27b 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
@@ -2941,6 +2941,11 @@ static UniValue createwallet(const JSONRPCRequest& request)
         warnings.emplace_back(Untranslated("Wallet is an experimental descriptor wallet"));
     }
 
+#ifndef USE_BDB
+    if (!(flags & WALLET_FLAG_DESCRIPTORS)) {
+        throw JSONRPCError(RPC_WALLET_ERROR, "Compiled without bdb support (required for legacy wallets)");
+    }
+#endif
     DatabaseOptions options;
     DatabaseStatus status;
     options.require_create = true;