diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8bb27d8..3ddad21 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ The following dependencies are required:
 * `girara` (>= 0.4.3)
 * `libmagic` from file(1): for mime-type detection
 * `json-glib`
+* `sqlite3` (>= 3.6.23): sqlite3 database backend
 
 The following dependencies are optional:
-
-* `sqlite3` (>= 3.6.23): sqlite3 database backend
 * `libsynctex` from TeXLive (>= 1.19): SyncTeX support
 * `libseccomp`: sandbox support
 
@@ -40,12 +39,6 @@ Note that `Sphinx` is needed to build the manpages. If it is not installed, the
 man pages won't be built. For building the HTML documentation, `doxygen`,
 `breathe` and `sphinx_rtd_theme` are needed in addition to `Sphinx`.
 
-If you don't want to build with support for sqlite databases, you can configure
-the build system with `-Dsqlite=disabled` and sqlite support won't be available.
-
-The use of magic to detect mime types is optional and can be disabled by
-configuring the build system with `-Dmagic=disabled`.
-
 The use of `libseccomp` to create a sandboxed environment is optional and can
 be disabled by configure the build system with `-Dseccomp=disabled`. The
 sandbox will by default be set to "normal" mode, which should not interfere
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8c4998f..f07151a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -44,8 +44,9 @@ gtk3 = dependency('gtk+-3.0', version: '>=3.24')
 json_glib = dependency('json-glib-1.0')
 cairo = dependency('cairo')
 magic = cc.find_library('magic', required: true)
+sqlite = dependency('sqlite3', version: '>=3.6.23', required: true)
 
-build_dependencies = [libm, girara, glib, gio, gthread, gmodule, gtk3, cairo, magic, json_glib]
+build_dependencies = [libm, girara, glib, gio, gthread, gmodule, gtk3, cairo, magic, json_glib, sqlite]
 
 if host_machine.system() == 'darwin'
   gtk_mac_integration = dependency('gtk-mac-integration-gtk3')
@@ -76,16 +77,9 @@ flags = cc.get_supported_arguments(flags)
 
 # optional dependencies
 additional_sources = []
-sqlite = dependency('sqlite3', version: '>=3.6.23', required: get_option('sqlite'))
 synctex = dependency('synctex', version: '>=1.19', required: get_option('synctex'))
 seccomp = dependency('libseccomp', required: get_option('seccomp'))
 
-if sqlite.found()
-  build_dependencies += sqlite
-  defines += '-DWITH_SQLITE'
-  additional_sources += files('zathura/database-sqlite.c')
-endif
-
 if synctex.found()
   build_dependencies += synctex
   defines += '-DWITH_SYNCTEX'
@@ -126,6 +120,7 @@ sources = files(
   'zathura/content-type.c',
   'zathura/database.c',
   'zathura/database-plain.c',
+  'zathura/database-sqlite.c',
   'zathura/dbus-interface.c',
   'zathura/document.c',
   'zathura/file-monitor.c',
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index db53870..303bd0d 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-option('sqlite',
-  type: 'feature',
-  value: 'auto',
-  description: 'SQLite database backend'
-)
 option('synctex',
   type: 'feature',
   value: 'auto',
diff --git a/zathura/zathura.c b/zathura/zathura.c
index d4dede9..fd863be 100644
--- a/zathura/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura/zathura.c
@@ -28,9 +28,7 @@
 #include "callbacks.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "commands.h"
-#ifdef WITH_SQLITE
 #include "database-sqlite.h"
-#endif
 #include "database-plain.h"
 #include "document.h"
 #include "shortcuts.h"
@@ -370,9 +368,7 @@ init_css(zathura_t* zathura)
   return true;
 }
 
-static void
-init_database(zathura_t* zathura)
-{
+static void init_database(zathura_t* zathura) {
   char* database = NULL;
   girara_setting_get(zathura->ui.session, "database", &database);
 
@@ -384,30 +380,23 @@ init_database(zathura_t* zathura)
   if (g_strcmp0(database, "plain") == 0) {
     girara_debug("Using plain database backend.");
     zathura->database = zathura_plaindatabase_new(zathura->config.data_dir);
-#ifdef WITH_SQLITE
   } else if (g_strcmp0(database, "sqlite") == 0) {
     girara_debug("Using sqlite database backend.");
-    char* tmp =
-      g_build_filename(zathura->config.data_dir, "bookmarks.sqlite", NULL);
+    char* tmp         = g_build_filename(zathura->config.data_dir, "bookmarks.sqlite", NULL);
     zathura->database = zathura_sqldatabase_new(tmp);
     g_free(tmp);
-#endif
   } else if (g_strcmp0(database, "null") != 0) {
     girara_error("Database backend '%s' is not supported.", database);
   }
 
   if (zathura->database == NULL && g_strcmp0(database, "null") != 0) {
-    girara_error(
-      "Unable to initialize database. Bookmarks won't be available.");
-  }
-  else {
-    g_object_set(G_OBJECT(zathura->ui.session->command_history), "io",
-                 zathura->database, NULL);
+    girara_error("Unable to initialize database. Bookmarks won't be available.");
+  } else {
+    g_object_set(G_OBJECT(zathura->ui.session->command_history), "io", zathura->database, NULL);
   }
   g_free(database);
 }
 
-static void
 init_jumplist(zathura_t* zathura)
 {
   int jumplist_size = 20;