diff --git a/arch/arch.mk.xtensa b/arch/arch.mk.xtensa
index 7b6c59cecd..75145e725f 100644
--- a/arch/arch.mk.xtensa
+++ b/arch/arch.mk.xtensa
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 BR_ARCH_XTENSA_OVERLAY_FILE = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_XTENSA_OVERLAY_FILE))
 
-ifeq ($(BR_BUILDING)$(BR2_XTENSA_CUSTOM):$(BR_ARCH_XTENSA_OVERLAY_FILE),yy:)
+ifeq ($(BR_BUILDING)$(BR2_XTENSA_CUSTOM)$(BR2_TOOLCHAIN_BUILDROOT):$(BR_ARCH_XTENSA_OVERLAY_FILE),yyy:)
 $(error No xtensa overlay file provided. Check your BR2_XTENSA_OVERLAY_FILE setting)
 endif