diff --git a/gemini-mode.el b/gemini-mode.el
index 0e915de..abb8e1f 100644
--- a/gemini-mode.el
+++ b/gemini-mode.el
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ insert a list item."
   "Major mode for editing text/gemini 'geminimap' documents"
   (setq font-lock-defaults '(gemini-highlights))
   (visual-line-mode 1)
-  (when (featurep 'visual-fill-column)
+  (when (require 'visual-fill-column nil t)
     (visual-fill-column-mode 1)))
 
 ;;;###autoload