diff --git a/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py b/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
index 690f5299a..9ba1b1a87 100644
--- a/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
+++ b/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
         if options["oneshot"]:
             return
 
-        if settings.CONSUMER_POLLING == 0:
+        if settings.CONSUMER_POLLING == 0 and INotify:
             self.handle_inotify(directory, recursive)
         else:
             self.handle_polling(directory, recursive)