diff --git a/target/product/sdk.mk b/target/product/sdk.mk
index 650f8e9b34..009a9d4706 100644
--- a/target/product/sdk.mk
+++ b/target/product/sdk.mk
@@ -29,4 +29,8 @@ PRODUCT_NAME := sdk
 PRODUCT_BRAND := Android
 PRODUCT_DEVICE := mainline_x86
 
-PRODUCT_BUILD_FROM_SOURCE_STUB := true
\ No newline at end of file
+PRODUCT_BUILD_FROM_SOURCE_STUB := true
+
+ifeq ($(WITHOUT_CHECK_API),true)
+  $(error WITHOUT_CHECK_API cannot be set to true for SDK product builds)
+endif