diff --git a/arch/cpu/cc26xx-cc13xx/Makefile.cc26xx-cc13xx b/arch/cpu/cc26xx-cc13xx/Makefile.cc26xx-cc13xx
index 4845b36ba..a5ffec9a6 100644
--- a/arch/cpu/cc26xx-cc13xx/Makefile.cc26xx-cc13xx
+++ b/arch/cpu/cc26xx-cc13xx/Makefile.cc26xx-cc13xx
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 CPU_ABS_PATH       = arch/cpu/cc26xx-cc13xx
 TI_XXWARE = $(CONTIKI_CPU)/$(TI_XXWARE_PATH)
 
+ifeq (,$(wildcard $(TI_XXWARE)))
+    $(warning $(TI_XXWARE) does not exist.)
+    $(warning Did you run 'git submodule update --init' ?)
+    $(error "")
+endif
+
 ### cc26xxware sources under driverlib will be added to the MODULES list
 TI_XXWARE_SRC = $(CPU_ABS_PATH)/$(TI_XXWARE_PATH)/driverlib