diff --git a/BUILD.gn b/BUILD.gn
index dd6d67f..39d98be 100644
--- a/BUILD.gn
+++ b/BUILD.gn
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 # without these options will be part of the same program.
 
 import("//build/config/c++/c++.gni")
+import("//build/config/nacl/config.gni")
 import("//build/config/sanitizers/sanitizers.gni")
 import("//build/toolchain/toolchain.gni")
 import("//build_overrides/build.gni")
@@ -16,6 +17,9 @@
   defines = [ "ABSL_CONSUME_DLL" ]
 }
 
+assert(!is_nacl || is_nacl_saigo,
+       "base must not be built in most nacl toolchains")
+
 component("absl") {
   public_deps = [ ":absl_component_deps" ]
   if (is_component_build) {