diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 07b594ea8a..5f266e36b2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1058,6 +1058,10 @@ endif
 # to workaround a bug in make 4.3; see https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?59093
 .PHONY: printvars
 printvars:
+ifndef VARS
+	@echo "Please pass a non-empty VARS to 'make printvars'"
+	@exit 1
+endif
 	@:
 	$(foreach V, \
 		$(sort $(foreach X, $(.VARIABLES), $(filter $(VARS),$(X)))), \