diff --git a/htaccess.sample b/htaccess.sample
index 634900dbf6..942e98334a 100644
--- a/htaccess.sample
+++ b/htaccess.sample
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
-RewriteEngine On
+<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
+  RewriteEngine On
 
-# NOTE: change this to your actual Laconica path; may be "/".
+  # NOTE: change this to your actual Laconica path; may be "/".
 
-RewriteBase /mublog/
+  RewriteBase /mublog/
 
-RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
-RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
-RewriteRule (.*) index.php?p=$1 [L,QSA]
+  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
+  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
+  RewriteRule (.*) index.php?p=$1 [L,QSA]
+</IfModule>
 
 <FilesMatch "\.(ini)">
   Order allow,deny