diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 53f27bf3b1..97db5ff16a 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -641,6 +641,10 @@ $(error No kernel device tree source specified, check your \
 	BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_INTREE_DTS_NAME / BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_DTS_PATH settings)
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_IMAGE_TARGET_CUSTOM):$(call qstrip,$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_IMAGE_TARGET_NAME)),y:)
+$(error No image name specified in BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_IMAGE_TARGET_NAME despite BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_IMAGE_TARGET_CUSTOM=y)
+endif
+
 endif # BR_BUILDING
 
 $(eval $(kconfig-package))