diff --git a/plugin.mk b/plugin.mk
index d8000e0b..6d58c5e5 100644
--- a/plugin.mk
+++ b/plugin.mk
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ endif
 SLUG := $(shell jq .slug plugin.json)
 VERSION := $(shell jq .version plugin.json)
 
+ifndef SLUG
+$(error SLUG could not be found in manifest)
+endif
+ifndef VERSION
+$(error VERSION could not be found in manifest)
+endif
+
 DISTRIBUTABLES += plugin.json
 
 FLAGS += -fPIC