diff --git a/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake b/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
index 1eee8487..c337dd8a 100644
--- a/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
+++ b/cmake/FairMQLib.cmake
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ macro(fairmq_build_option option description)
       if(${__requires_condition__})
       else()
         if(${option})
-          message(WARNING "Cannot enable build option ${option}, depending option is not set: ${__requires_condition__}")
+          message(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot enable build option ${option}, depending option is not set: ${__requires_condition__}")
         endif()
       endif()
     endforeach()