diff --git a/include/linux/byteorder/big_endian.h b/include/linux/byteorder/big_endian.h
index 392041475c72..ffd215988392 100644
--- a/include/linux/byteorder/big_endian.h
+++ b/include/linux/byteorder/big_endian.h
@@ -3,5 +3,9 @@
 
 #include <uapi/linux/byteorder/big_endian.h>
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_CPU_BIG_ENDIAN
+#warning inconsistent configuration, needs CONFIG_CPU_BIG_ENDIAN
+#endif
+
 #include <linux/byteorder/generic.h>
 #endif /* _LINUX_BYTEORDER_BIG_ENDIAN_H */
diff --git a/include/linux/byteorder/little_endian.h b/include/linux/byteorder/little_endian.h
index 08057377aa23..ba910bb9aad0 100644
--- a/include/linux/byteorder/little_endian.h
+++ b/include/linux/byteorder/little_endian.h
@@ -3,5 +3,9 @@
 
 #include <uapi/linux/byteorder/little_endian.h>
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_CPU_BIG_ENDIAN
+#warning inconsistent configuration, CONFIG_CPU_BIG_ENDIAN is set
+#endif
+
 #include <linux/byteorder/generic.h>
 #endif /* _LINUX_BYTEORDER_LITTLE_ENDIAN_H */