diff --git a/core/soong_java_prebuilt.mk b/core/soong_java_prebuilt.mk
index a62590d84a..cfda44e0ec 100644
--- a/core/soong_java_prebuilt.mk
+++ b/core/soong_java_prebuilt.mk
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ ifdef LOCAL_SOONG_DEX_JAR
     java-dex : $(common_javalib.jar)
   endif  # LOCAL_UNINSTALLABLE_MODULE
 else  # LOCAL_SOONG_DEX_JAR
+  ifndef LOCAL_UNINSTALLABLE_MODULE
+    ifndef LOCAL_IS_HOST_MODULE
+      $(call pretty-error,Installable device module must have LOCAL_SOONG_DEX_JAR set)
+    endif
+  endif
   $(eval $(call copy-one-file,$(full_classes_jar),$(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE)))
 endif  # LOCAL_SOONG_DEX_JAR