diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index 18bd7ecd3ac..074bdedeb67 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ MK_GCC_BOOTSTRAP=	no
 .if make(installworld) || make(install) || make(distributeworld) || \
     make(stageworld)
 .-include "${OBJTOP}/compiler-metadata.mk"
+.if !defined(_LOADED_COMPILER_METADATA)
+.error A build is required first.  You may have the wrong MAKEOBJDIRPREFIX set.
+.endif
 .endif
 
 # Pull in COMPILER_TYPE and COMPILER_FREEBSD_VERSION early. Pull it from the
@@ -195,6 +198,7 @@ compiler-metadata.mk: .PHONY .META
 	@: > ${.TARGET}
 	@echo ".info Using cached compiler metadata from build at $$(hostname) on $$(date)" \
 	    > ${.TARGET}
+	@echo "_LOADED_COMPILER_METADATA=t" >> ${.TARGET}
 .for v in ${_COMPILER_METADATA_VARS}
 	@echo "${v}=${${v}}" >> ${.TARGET}
 .endfor