diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 8a3b5f90a9..9bd2358ef6 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -520,6 +520,9 @@ ifeq ($$($(2)_SITE_METHOD),local)
 ifeq ($$($(2)_OVERRIDE_SRCDIR),)
 $(2)_OVERRIDE_SRCDIR = $$($(2)_SITE)
 endif
+ifeq ($$($(2)_OVERRIDE_SRCDIR),)
+$$(error $(1) has local site method, but `$(2)_SITE` is not defined)
+endif
 endif
 
 ifndef $(2)_LICENSE