diff --git a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
index 729fc7cd70..2668e24262 100644
--- a/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
+++ b/crates/dbx-core/src/connection.rs
@@ -638,6 +638,8 @@ impl AppState {
         pool: PoolKind,
         config: &ConnectionConfig,
     ) {
+        // mq_registry only exists in mq-admin builds; other builds reject MQ connects before a pool is created.
+        #[cfg(feature = "mq-admin")]
         if matches!(pool, PoolKind::MessageQueue) {
             self.mq_registry.drop_connection(connection_id).await;
         }