diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5806729cef64e37b4676c1f78e3425661d1590a7..26500ffc5eabeb08a219a3ed52495a0ae8776efd 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ _all:
 # Cancel implicit rules on top Makefile
 $(CURDIR)/Makefile Makefile: ;
 
+ifneq ($(words $(subst :, ,$(CURDIR))), 1)
+  $(error main directory cannot contain spaces nor colons)
+endif
+
 ifneq ($(KBUILD_OUTPUT),)
 # Invoke a second make in the output directory, passing relevant variables
 # check that the output directory actually exists