diff --git a/observer.h b/observer.h
index 34be9851..8d0cf9bb 100644
--- a/observer.h
+++ b/observer.h
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ SOFTWARE.
 #include <algorithm>
 #include "vector.h"
 #include "exception.h"
+
+#ifndef ETL_THROW_EXCEPTIONS
 #include "error_handler.h"
+#endif
 
 namespace etl
 {