diff --git a/src/if_perl.xs b/src/if_perl.xs
index 203bb6a..67d0b948 100644
--- a/src/if_perl.xs
+++ b/src/if_perl.xs
@@ -971,6 +971,7 @@
 #ifdef DYNAMIC_PERL
 static char *e_noperl = N_("Sorry, this command is disabled: the Perl library could not be loaded.");
 #endif
+static char *e_perlsandbox = N_("E299: Perl evaluation forbidden in sandbox without the Safe module");
 
 /*
  * ":perl"
@@ -1019,13 +1020,12 @@
 	vim_free(script);
     }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_SANDBOX
-    if (sandbox)
+    if (sandbox || secure)
     {
 	safe = perl_get_sv("VIM::safe", FALSE);
 # ifndef MAKE_TEST  /* avoid a warning for unreachable code */
 	if (safe == NULL || !SvTRUE(safe))
-	    emsg(_("E299: Perl evaluation forbidden in sandbox without the Safe module"));
+	    emsg(_(e_perlsandbox));
 	else
 # endif
 	{
@@ -1037,7 +1037,6 @@
 	}
     }
     else
-#endif
 	perl_eval_sv(sv, G_DISCARD | G_NOARGS);
 
     SvREFCNT_dec(sv);
@@ -1298,13 +1297,12 @@
 	ENTER;
 	SAVETMPS;
 
-#ifdef HAVE_SANDBOX
-	if (sandbox)
+	if (sandbox || secure)
 	{
 	    safe = get_sv("VIM::safe", FALSE);
 # ifndef MAKE_TEST  /* avoid a warning for unreachable code */
 	    if (safe == NULL || !SvTRUE(safe))
-		emsg(_("E299: Perl evaluation forbidden in sandbox without the Safe module"));
+		emsg(_(e_perlsandbox));
 	    else
 # endif
 	    {
@@ -1320,7 +1318,6 @@
 	    }
 	}
 	else
-#endif /* HAVE_SANDBOX */
 	    sv = eval_pv((char *)str, 0);
 
 	if (sv) {