diff --git a/toolchain/helpers.mk b/toolchain/helpers.mk
index 50446ce914..257fab23f1 100644
--- a/toolchain/helpers.mk
+++ b/toolchain/helpers.mk
@@ -357,6 +357,14 @@ check_unusable_toolchain = \
 		echo "them unsuitable as external toolchains for build systems" ; \
 		echo "such as Buildroot." ; \
 		exit 1 ; \
+	fi; \
+	with_sysroot=`$${__CROSS_CC} -v 2>&1 |sed -r -e '/.* --with-sysroot=([^[:space:]]+)[[:space:]].*/!d; s//\1/'`; \
+	if test "$${with_sysroot}"  = "/" ; then \
+		echo "Distribution toolchains are unsuitable for use by Buildroot," ; \
+		echo "as they were configured in a way that makes them non-relocatable,"; \
+		echo "and contain a lot of pre-built libraries that would conflict with"; \
+		echo "the ones Buildroot wants to build."; \
+		exit 1; \
 	fi
 
 #