diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index d635516734..a689dde4d2 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -510,6 +510,9 @@ 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