diff --git a/src/clientversion.h b/src/clientversion.h
--- a/src/clientversion.h
+++ b/src/clientversion.h
@@ -6,9 +6,18 @@
 #ifndef BITCOIN_CLIENTVERSION_H
 #define BITCOIN_CLIENTVERSION_H
 
+#if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
 #include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
+#endif // HAVE_CONFIG_H
 #include <config/version.h>
 
+// Check that required client information is defined
+#if !defined(CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR) || !defined(CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR) ||        \
+    !defined(CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION) || !defined(CLIENT_VERSION_BUILD) ||     \
+    !defined(CLIENT_VERSION_IS_RELEASE) || !defined(COPYRIGHT_YEAR)
+#error Client version information missing: version is not defined by bitcoin-config.h nor defined any other way
+#endif
+
 /**
  * Converts the parameter X to a string after macro replacement on X has been
  * performed.