diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 7a6d5e67b7..9643a30e24 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -162,6 +162,11 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_patched:
 	$(Q)touch $@
 	@$(call step_end,patch)
 
+# Check that all directories specified in BR2_GLOBAL_PATCH_DIR exist.
+$(foreach dir,$(call qstrip,$(BR2_GLOBAL_PATCH_DIR)),\
+	$(if $(wildcard $(dir)),,\
+		$(error BR2_GLOBAL_PATCH_DIR contains nonexistent directory $(dir))))
+
 # Configure
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_configured:
 	@$(call step_start,configure)