diff --git a/src/cmd/linuxkit/pkglib/build.go b/src/cmd/linuxkit/pkglib/build.go
index ad1c05b2b..1fd571570 100644
--- a/src/cmd/linuxkit/pkglib/build.go
+++ b/src/cmd/linuxkit/pkglib/build.go
@@ -317,6 +317,9 @@ func (p Pkg) Build(bos ...BuildOpt) error {
 			if desc == nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("no valid descriptor returned for image for arch %s", platform.Architecture)
 			}
+			if desc.Platform == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("descriptor for platform %v has no information on the platform: %#v", platform, desc)
+			}
 			descs = append(descs, *desc)
 		}