diff --git a/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk b/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
index 7a7c200f76..d580fcbfff 100644
--- a/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
+++ b/package/skeleton/skeleton.mk
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM),y)
 
 SKELETON_PATH = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM_PATH))
 
+ifeq ($(BR_BUILDING),y)
+ifeq ($(SKELETON_PATH),)
+$(error No path specified for the custom skeleton)
+endif
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_ROOTFS_MERGED_USR),y)
 
 # Ensure the user has prepared a merged /usr.
diff --git a/system/Config.in b/system/Config.in
index b895db9014..6fce8e173e 100644
--- a/system/Config.in
+++ b/system/Config.in
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ config BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM
 endchoice
 
 if BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM
+
 config BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_CUSTOM_PATH
 	string "custom target skeleton path"
-	default "system/skeleton"
 	help
 	  Path to custom target skeleton.