diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4bbb7139..0a205778 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -119,9 +119,21 @@ find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 set(PKG_CONFIG_USE_CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ON)
 
 find_library(LIBRT rt)
+if (NOT LIBRT)
+	message(FATAL_ERROR "error: couldn't find librt")
+endif()
 find_library(LIBNUMA numa)
+if (NOT LIBNUMA)
+	message(FATAL_ERROR "error: couldn't find libnuma")
+endif()
 find_library(LIBBFD bfd)
+if (NOT LIBBFD)
+	message(FATAL_ERROR "error: couldn't find libbfd")
+endif()
 find_library(LIBIBERTY iberty)
+if (NOT LIBIBERTY)
+	message(FATAL_ERROR "error: couldn't find libiberty")
+endif()
 
 if (ENABLE_QLMPI)
 	find_package(MPI REQUIRED)