diff --git a/src/common/util.c b/src/common/util.c
index 601f2be3e2..542093fb5d 100644
--- a/src/common/util.c
+++ b/src/common/util.c
@@ -1736,6 +1736,8 @@ check_private_dir(const char *dirname, cpd_check_t check,
   struct passwd *pw = NULL;
   uid_t running_uid;
   gid_t running_gid;
+#else
+  (void)effective_user;
 #endif
 
   tor_assert(dirname);