diff --git a/core/error.rs b/core/error.rs
index 23ce9fe9b..87c686932 100644
--- a/core/error.rs
+++ b/core/error.rs
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ pub enum CompletionError {
         expected: u64,
         actual: u64,
     },
+    #[error("tursodb not compiled with checksum feature")]
+    ChecksumNotEnabled,
 }
 
 #[macro_export]
diff --git a/core/storage/checksum.rs b/core/storage/checksum.rs
index e7ba78975..a67376048 100644
--- a/core/storage/checksum.rs
+++ b/core/storage/checksum.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ impl ChecksumContext {
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "checksum"))]
     pub fn add_checksum_to_page(&self, _page: &mut [u8], _page_id: usize) -> Result<()> {
-        Ok(())
+        use crate::LimboError;
+        Err(LimboError::InternalError(
+            "tursodb must be recompiled with checksum feature in order to use checksums"
+                .to_string(),
+        ))
     }
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "checksum"))]
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ impl ChecksumContext {
         _page: &mut [u8],
         _page_id: usize,
     ) -> std::result::Result<(), CompletionError> {
-        Ok(())
+        Err(CompletionError::ChecksumNotEnabled)
     }
 
     #[cfg(feature = "checksum")]
diff --git a/core/storage/database.rs b/core/storage/database.rs
index c44aed214..79b7d0a7a 100644
--- a/core/storage/database.rs
+++ b/core/storage/database.rs
@@ -48,8 +48,12 @@ impl IOContext {
 
 impl Default for IOContext {
     fn default() -> Self {
+        #[cfg(feature = "checksum")]
+        let encryption_or_checksum = EncryptionOrChecksum::Checksum(ChecksumContext::default());
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "checksum"))]
+        let encryption_or_checksum = EncryptionOrChecksum::None;
         Self {
-            encryption_or_checksum: EncryptionOrChecksum::Checksum(ChecksumContext::default()),
+            encryption_or_checksum,
         }
     }
 }