diff --git a/lib/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities.rb b/lib/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities.rb
index a60f5edd05b..f704b52760c 100644
--- a/lib/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities.rb
+++ b/lib/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def initialize(settings)
           private
 
           def register(settings)
-            if settings.appsec.enabled
+            if settings.respond_to?(:appsec) && settings.appsec.enabled
               register_capabilities(Datadog::AppSec::Remote.capabilities)
               register_products(Datadog::AppSec::Remote.products)
               register_receivers(Datadog::AppSec::Remote.receivers)
diff --git a/spec/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities_spec.rb b/spec/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities_spec.rb
index ae6aaf62579..2799a52e600 100644
--- a/spec/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/datadog/core/remote/client/capabilities_spec.rb
@@ -11,54 +11,74 @@
     capabilities
   end
 
-  context 'when no component enabled' do
-    let(:settings) do
-      appsec_settings = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::Settings.new
-      dsl = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::DSL.new
-      dsl.enabled = false
-      appsec_settings.merge(dsl)
+  context 'AppSec component' do
+    context 'when disabled' do
+      let(:settings) do
+        appsec_settings = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::Settings.new
+        dsl = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::DSL.new
+        dsl.enabled = false
+        appsec_settings.merge(dsl)
 
-      settings = Datadog::Core::Configuration::Settings.new
-      expect(settings).to receive(:appsec).at_least(:once).and_return(appsec_settings)
+        settings = Datadog::Core::Configuration::Settings.new
+        expect(settings).to receive(:appsec).at_least(:once).and_return(appsec_settings)
 
-      settings
-    end
+        settings
+      end
 
-    it 'does not register any capabilities, products, and receivers' do
-      expect(capabilities.capabilities).to be_empty
-      expect(capabilities.products).to be_empty
-      expect(capabilities.receivers).to be_empty
-    end
+      it 'does not register any capabilities, products, and receivers' do
+        expect(capabilities.capabilities).to be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.products).to be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.receivers).to be_empty
+      end
 
-    describe '#base64_capabilities' do
-      it 'returns an empty string' do
-        expect(capabilities.base64_capabilities).to eq('')
+      describe '#base64_capabilities' do
+        it 'returns an empty string' do
+          expect(capabilities.base64_capabilities).to eq('')
+        end
       end
     end
-  end
 
-  context 'when a component enabled' do
-    let(:settings) do
-      appsec_settings = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::Settings.new
-      dsl = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::DSL.new
-      dsl.enabled = true
-      appsec_settings.merge(dsl)
+    context 'when not present' do
+      let(:settings) do
+        double(Datadog::Core::Configuration)
+      end
 
-      settings = Datadog::Core::Configuration::Settings.new
-      expect(settings).to receive(:appsec).and_return(appsec_settings)
+      it 'does not register any capabilities, products, and receivers' do
+        expect(capabilities.capabilities).to be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.products).to be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.receivers).to be_empty
+      end
 
-      settings
+      describe '#base64_capabilities' do
+        it 'returns an empty string' do
+          expect(capabilities.base64_capabilities).to eq('')
+        end
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'register capabilities, products, and receivers' do
-      expect(capabilities.capabilities).to_not be_empty
-      expect(capabilities.products).to_not be_empty
-      expect(capabilities.receivers).to_not be_empty
-    end
+    context 'when enabled' do
+      let(:settings) do
+        appsec_settings = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::Settings.new
+        dsl = Datadog::AppSec::Configuration::DSL.new
+        dsl.enabled = true
+        appsec_settings.merge(dsl)
+
+        settings = Datadog::Core::Configuration::Settings.new
+        expect(settings).to receive(:appsec).and_return(appsec_settings)
+
+        settings
+      end
+
+      it 'register capabilities, products, and receivers' do
+        expect(capabilities.capabilities).to_not be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.products).to_not be_empty
+        expect(capabilities.receivers).to_not be_empty
+      end
 
-    describe '#base64_capabilities' do
-      it 'returns binary capabilities' do
-        expect(capabilities.base64_capabilities).to eq('/A==')
+      describe '#base64_capabilities' do
+        it 'returns binary capabilities' do
+          expect(capabilities.base64_capabilities).to eq('/A==')
+        end
       end
     end
   end