diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d6dec204..a7ec6239 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           key: ${{ matrix.TARGET }}
 
+      - run: cargo check --target ${{ matrix.TARGET }} --no-default-features
+        env:
+          RUSTFLAGS: -D warnings
       - run: cargo check --target ${{ matrix.TARGET }}
         env:
           RUSTFLAGS: -D warnings
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 25439d50..942676c8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- Fix building without `yaml` feature
 - Compatibility with `riscv` 0.12 and `riscv-rt` 0.13
 - Add `riscv_config` section in `settings.yaml`
   It uses `riscv-pac` traits and standard `riscv-peripheral` peripherals.
diff --git a/src/generate/device.rs b/src/generate/device.rs
index 9f0ff909..fdecb54b 100644
--- a/src/generate/device.rs
+++ b/src/generate/device.rs
@@ -29,10 +29,15 @@ pub fn render(d: &Device, config: &Config, device_x: &mut String) -> Result<Toke
     };
 
     let settings = match config.settings.as_ref() {
+        #[cfg(feature = "yaml")]
         Some(settings) => {
             let file = std::fs::read_to_string(settings).context("could not read settings file")?;
             Some(serde_yaml::from_str(&file).context("could not parse settings file")?)
         }
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "yaml"))]
+        Some(_) => {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Support for yaml config files is not available because svd2rust was compiled without the yaml feature"));
+        }
         None => None,
     };