diff --git a/include/opendht/dhtrunner.h b/include/opendht/dhtrunner.h
index dec7bbff..2bf98df7 100644
--- a/include/opendht/dhtrunner.h
+++ b/include/opendht/dhtrunner.h
@@ -381,15 +381,7 @@ public:
      */
     void join();
 
-    void setProxyServer(const std::string& proxy, const std::string& pushNodeId = "") {
-#if OPENDHT_PROXY_CLIENT
-        if (config_.proxy_server == proxy and config_.push_node_id == pushNodeId)
-            return;
-        config_.proxy_server = proxy;
-        config_.push_node_id = pushNodeId;
-        enableProxy(use_proxy and not config_.proxy_server.empty());
-#endif
-    }
+    void setProxyServer(const std::string& proxy, const std::string& pushNodeId = "");
 
     /**
      * Start or stop the proxy
diff --git a/src/dhtrunner.cpp b/src/dhtrunner.cpp
index 104ee3d6..c0921f5c 100644
--- a/src/dhtrunner.cpp
+++ b/src/dhtrunner.cpp
@@ -907,6 +907,21 @@ DhtRunner::activeDht() const
 #endif // OPENDHT_PROXY_CLIENT
 }
 
+void
+DhtRunner::setProxyServer(const std::string& proxy, const std::string& pushNodeId)
+{
+#if OPENDHT_PROXY_CLIENT
+    if (config_.proxy_server == proxy and config_.push_node_id == pushNodeId)
+        return;
+    config_.proxy_server = proxy;
+    config_.push_node_id = pushNodeId;
+    enableProxy(use_proxy and not config_.proxy_server.empty());
+#else
+    if (not proxy.empty())
+        std::cerr << "DHT proxy requested but OpenDHT built without proxy support." << std::endl;
+#endif
+}
+
 void
 DhtRunner::enableProxy(bool proxify)
 {