diff --git a/crates/nu-plugin-core/src/communication_mode/mod.rs b/crates/nu-plugin-core/src/communication_mode/mod.rs
index 8e96511b2f..a79c2d8798 100644
--- a/crates/nu-plugin-core/src/communication_mode/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-plugin-core/src/communication_mode/mod.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::io::{Stdin, Stdout};
 use std::process::{Child, ChildStdin, ChildStdout, Command, Stdio};
 
 use nu_protocol::ShellError;
+#[cfg(feature = "local-socket")] // unused without that feature
 use nu_protocol::shell_error::io::IoError;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "local-socket")]