diff --git a/pmb/build/_package.py b/pmb/build/_package.py
index c8feb652..93818207 100644
--- a/pmb/build/_package.py
+++ b/pmb/build/_package.py
@@ -431,6 +431,12 @@ def packages(
     for item in build_queue:
         logging.info(f"   @BLUE@*@END@ {item['channel']}/{item['name']}")
 
+    if len(build_queue) > 1 and src:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "Additional packages need building, please build them first and then"
+            " build the package with --src again."
+        )
+
     cross = None
 
     for pkg in build_queue: