diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index e3ee802708..0c669d3ce0 100644
--- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -222,6 +222,10 @@ set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)
 endmacro()
 
 if(WITH_CGAL)
+    if(NOT EXISTS "${CGAL_INCLUDE_DIR}")
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "CGAL_INCLUDE_DIR ('${CGAL_INCLUDE_DIR}') is not provided or doesn't exist.")
+    endif()
+
     add_definitions(-DIFOPSH_WITH_CGAL)
     set(SWIG_DEFINES ${SWIG_DEFINES} -DIFOPSH_WITH_CGAL)