diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cd63881..3483f82 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ PROTOGENLOCAL= $(shell if [ -e ~/go/bin/protoc-gen-go ]; then  echo ~/go/bin/pro
 all:
 	@echo ${PROTOGEN}
 	@echo ${PROTOGENLOCAL}
+	@if [ ! -f ~/go/bin/protc-gen-go ]; then \
+		echo "you have not build ~/go/bin/protoc-gen-go from google's repo"; \
+		echo "run 'make protogen'" \
+		exit -1; \
+	fi
 	make build
 	./virtigo --version
 	@echo build worked