diff --git a/src/bootctl/bootctl.c b/src/bootctl/bootctl.c
index e586c7f0da..77a4d55593 100644
--- a/src/bootctl/bootctl.c
+++ b/src/bootctl/bootctl.c
@@ -524,6 +524,11 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                         r = parse_tristate_argument("--variables=", optarg, &arg_touch_variables);
                         if (r < 0)
                                 return r;
+#if !ENABLE_EFI
+                        if (arg_touch_variables > 0)
+                                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EOPNOTSUPP),
+                                                       "Compiled without support for EFI, --variables=%s cannot be specified.", optarg);
+#endif
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_NO_VARIABLES: