diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4948b7f5b1..5c9b8a803b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ override O := $(patsubst %/,%,$(patsubst %.,%,$(O)))
 # avoid empty CANONICAL_O in case on non-existing entry.
 CANONICAL_O := $(shell mkdir -p $(O) >/dev/null 2>&1)$(realpath $(O))
 
+# gcc fails to build when the srcdir contains a '@'
+ifneq ($(findstring @,$(CANONICAL_O)),)
+$(error The build directory can not contain a '@')
+endif
+
 CANONICAL_CURDIR = $(realpath $(CURDIR))
 
 REQ_UMASK = 0022