diff --git a/src/platforms/px4_defines.h b/src/platforms/px4_defines.h
index 711e1cc82ecb7b5e58ae24a96763fba3268e3173..bde247ee9e17da9035f0badc91a2db6b83f57314 100644
--- a/src/platforms/px4_defines.h
+++ b/src/platforms/px4_defines.h
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@
 
 #include <px4_log.h>
 
+#if defined(__PX4_NUTTX) && !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_MATH_H)
+#error CONFIG_ARCH_MATH_H is required to use math definitions and functions
+#endif
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Defines for all platforms.
  ****************************************************************************/