diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index c9741a0a20..c9b478e359 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -4035,6 +4035,18 @@ ifeq ($(AB_OTA_UPDATER),true)
     $(BUILT_TARGET_FILES_PACKAGE): $(TARGET_OUT_OEM)/$(OSRELEASED_DIRECTORY)/product_version
     $(BUILT_TARGET_FILES_PACKAGE): $(TARGET_OUT_ETC)/$(OSRELEASED_DIRECTORY)/system_version
   endif
+
+  # Not checking in board_config.mk, since AB_OTA_PARTITIONS may be updated in Android.mk (e.g. to
+  # additionally include radio or bootloader partitions).
+  ifeq ($(AB_OTA_PARTITIONS),)
+    $(error AB_OTA_PARTITIONS must be defined when using AB_OTA_UPDATER)
+  endif
+endif
+
+ifneq ($(AB_OTA_PARTITIONS),)
+  ifneq ($(AB_OTA_UPDATER),true)
+    $(error AB_OTA_UPDATER must be true when defining AB_OTA_PARTITIONS)
+  endif
 endif
 
 # Run fs_config while creating the target files package