diff --git a/cmake/toolchain/zephyr/generic.cmake b/cmake/toolchain/zephyr/generic.cmake
index 1db98b3d9e2..b8496614a69 100644
--- a/cmake/toolchain/zephyr/generic.cmake
+++ b/cmake/toolchain/zephyr/generic.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+if(NOT DEFINED SDK_VERSION)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "SDK_VERSION must be set")
+endif()
+
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/cmake/toolchain/zephyr/${SDK_VERSION}/generic.cmake)