diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2c87feb7a7..29730302b0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -123,8 +123,11 @@ endif
 ifeq ($(NOCOMPILE),1)
 include $(TOPLEVEL)/Makefile.inc
 include $(TOPLEVEL)/payloads/Makefile.inc
-real-all: config
-
+real-all:
+	@echo "Error: Expected config file ($(DOTCONFIG)) not present." >&2
+	@echo "Please specify a config file or run 'make menuconfig' to" >&2
+	@echo "generate a new config file." >&2
+	@exit 1
 else
 
 include $(DOTCONFIG)